When behaviour crosses the line: bullying and harassment in continuing care

People working in continuing care show up each day to support and care for others—and for one another. Everyone deserves a workplace that feels respectful and safe.

Bullying and harassment can quickly make work feel stressful and unsafe. It can also make it harder to speak up about hazards or concerns.

Let’s talk about what bullying and harassment are, what they are not, why they matter, and what to do next.

What bullying and harassment mean

WorkSafeBC defines workplace bullying and harassment as any inappropriate conduct or comment toward a worker that a person knew, or reasonably ought to have known, would cause the worker to feel humiliated or intimidated.

Bullying and harassment do not include reasonable actions taken by an employer or supervisor to manage and direct workers or the workplace.

In simple terms, the “line” is this:

• Bullying and harassment leave someone feeling humiliated, ridiculed, or intimidated.
• Reasonable work direction may be uncomfortable at times, but it is about the work and is part of managing a workplace.

What it can look like

Bullying and harassment are not always loud. Sometimes they are obvious, and at other times they appear as repeated behaviours.

Examples include:

• verbal aggression or yelling
• spreading rumours or gossip
• calling someone derogatory names
• exclusion or isolation
• any inappropriate conduct or comment that would cause someone to feel humiliated, ridiculed, or intimidated

What does bullying and harassment not include?

It is normal to have different views at work. It is also normal to get feedback or direction. These do not count as bullying and harassment:

• expressing a difference of opinion
• constructive feedback, guidance, or advice about work-related behaviour
• an employer or supervisor managing performance, taking disciplinary action, or assigning work

Why it matters

Bullying and harassment can affect your health, your confidence, and your safety at work.

Impacts on workers

Bullying and harassment can affect emotional and psychological health. It can lead to anxiety, fear, depression, emotional exhaustion, loss of confidence and professional self-worth, sleep disturbances, and chronic stress.

It can also affect physical health. It can contribute to headaches, muscle tension and pain, fatigue, and reduced immune function.

Bullying can increase the risk of injury. This can happen when someone is distracted, less focused, or avoiding certain tasks or people.

It can also affect job performance and confidence. People may withdraw from teamwork or communication, avoid speaking up, report fewer hazards, and make more errors.

Impacts on the workplace

Bullying and harassment can lead to:

• more absenteeism and turnover
• more workplace conflict and poor teamwork
• decreased quality of care for clients and residents
• a greater risk of incidents
• decreased productivity
• low morale and engagement
• higher claim costs

Over time, bullying and harassment can start to feel “normal.” This can lead to underreporting or delayed reporting.

It can also create fear about reporting. This can include fear of reporting bullying and harassment, hazards, injuries and illnesses, near-misses, medical concerns, and other health and safety concerns. When people are afraid to report, safety culture suffers.

What to do if you’ve experienced bullying

If you experience bullying or harassment at work, report it using your organization’s reporting procedure.

Reporting early matters. Timely reporting and investigation can:

• prevent the situation from escalating
• reduce harm to the worker
• reduce impacts in the workplace
• help prevent it from happening again
• support a safe and respectful environment

What to remember

Bullying and harassment is not “part of the job.” It can harm people and workplaces. If it happens, you do not have to deal with it alone. Report it using your organization’s process so it can be addressed early and respectfully.