Introduction

The psychosocial hazards of workplace bullying, aggression, and violence, are relative newcomers to the Work Health and Safety (WHS) landscape.  Whilst these issues have historically been present at the workplace and in other environments, it is only in the last decade or so that bullying in particular, has been recognised as a significant workplace hazard and made subject to regulatory responses in Australia, including Codes of Practice, guidance, avenues for complaint, inspector interventions, and prosecutions.

Some academic literature and policy documents emanating from Europe, and the WHS regulatory authority in Queensland, refers to "Workplace Harassment" as an alternative term described as "Bullying".  However, in other parts of Australia, and in the federal jurisdiction, "harassment" is distinct from "bullying".  To meet the definition of "harassment", the negative behaviour must be related to a personal attribute of the target (e.g., race, gender, disability, pregnancy or religion).

Offences related to harassment and discrimination fall typically within the jurisdiction of anti-discrimination, sexual harassment, human rights, or equal opportunities agencies, and the exact wording for definitions, and the specified attributes, varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.