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Bullying in the Workplace.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004

Thursday, 25 March 2004

Questions (46, 47)

Mary Wallace

Question:

45 Ms M. Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the manner in which the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 covers bullying in the workplace; if her Department has provided funding to support this aspect of the legislation to voluntary organisations operating in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9419/04]

View answer

Mary Wallace

Question:

46 Ms M. Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps taken by the anti-bullying unit of the Health and Safety Authority to deal with the issue of bullying in the workplace; if statistics have been provided to her by the Health and Safety Authority to demonstrate a 100% increase in 2003 in inquiries received by the authority with regard to bullying in the workplace; the funding available either through her Department or through the Health and Safety Authority to deal with this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9420/04]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together.

The Health and Safety Authority's Code of Practice for the Prevention of Workplace Bullying 2002 and section 6 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 refer to the employer's responsibility to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the working environment is free from danger to the safety, health and welfare of the employee. Section 9 of the 1989 Act sets out duties on employees to protect their own safety, health and welfare and that of their co-workers or those who might be affected by another's actions, or omissions, while at work.

Employers must also prepare a safety statement under section 12 of the 1989 Act, based on an identification of the hazards and an assessment of the risks to safety and health at the place of work to which the statement relates. In preparing a safety statement, an identification of hazards and a risk assessment must be carried out in relation to the existence of workplace bullying.

The authority's code of practice points out that "The preparation and implementation of an effective Anti-Bullying Policy is necessary so as to ensure that, should bullying occur, there are procedures in place, supported by management, to deal with it." It further advises that:

A policy dealing with the prevention of workplace bullying should be produced following consultation with the employee representatives. It should be written, dated and signed at senior management level and updated when appropriate. It should be made available to all staff and highlighted as part of the induction process. It should also be publicised among existing staff on an ongoing basis. Reference should also be made to the Anti-Bullying Policy in the Safety Statement.

The Health and Safety Authority's anti-bullying unit was set up in 2001 in response to the recommendations of the task force on bullying and it concentrates on ensuring that organisations have an anti-bullying policy in place. It also assists those who do not have an adequate anti-bullying policy, to upgrade what they have, to bring it in line with the authority's Code of Practice for the Prevention of Workplace Bullying and the Labour Relations Commission's code of practice detailing procedures for addressing bullying in the workplace. The unit also attempts to ensure that policies are implemented by assessing records and evidence, although this is a limited function.

Statistics from the Health and Safety Authority indicate a 100% increase in inquiries to the unit in 2003. These include calls and letters from persons alleging bullying, from persons accused of bullying, from employers, human resource professionals, trade unions, solicitors and relatives of bullying victims.

Funding of the anti-bullying unit is provided through the annual grant of the Health and Safety Authority from my Department. My Department has no provision for funding to voluntary organisations in regard to the matter of bullying.

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