| COURSE

Workplace Bullying in Ireland

About this course

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Every employee has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. Bullying and harassment of any kind should not be tolerated whether employees work at a fixed location, at home or on the move. Both employees and employers have a role to play in promoting a positive workplace culture free from bullying.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have developed a Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work which contains practical guidance on how to prevent and address workplace bullying.

It is vital that all employees have an understanding of what bullying is and how to address it. Training to prevent or at least minimise the risk of bullying in the workplace is a key part of the Code. Employers should provide workplace bullying training to all staff on commencement, together with regular refresher updates throughout their employment.

Legal Island has created a 45-minute eLearning course in partnership with Ogier, specifically for all employees in Ireland. The provision of this training for your staff will enable your organisation to act in compliance with the Code and help to raise awareness of bullying and harassment in the workplace and explain what to do if employees are concerned.  

This course has been recently updated and now includes the most recent bullying statistics from Ireland, a new ‘Meet the colleagues’ section, and information on how artificial intelligence can impact workplace bullying.  

 

What is bullying in the workplace?

Bullying at work has been described in various ways. The Code defines bullying as:

“Repeated, inappropriate behaviour, direct or indirect, whether verbal, physical or otherwise, conducted by one or more persons against another or others, at the place of work and/or in the course of employment, which could reasonably be regarded as undermining the individual’s right to dignity at work.“

According to a survey carried out by the Dublin City University Anti-Bullying Centre which examined the prevalence and impact of workplace bullying in 2022, over a third (33%) of respondents claim to have been bullied at work within the past 3 years.  

 

What is not considered bullying in the workplace?

The Code highlights a non-exhaustive list of what does not constitute bullying, which includes:

  • Performance management
  • Differences of opinion
  • Constructive feedback
  • Workplace conflict

The Code also highlights while bullying and harassment are often referred to together, they are in fact, separate and distinct.

While it’s not ideal in any workplace, a once-off incident of disrespectful behaviour is not itself considered bullying but could be considered harassment if it falls under one of the nine grounds. These nine grounds are set out in the Employment Equality Act 1998-2015 and are gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, race and membership of the Traveller community.

 

What is the purpose of this course?

The purpose of this course is to raise awareness of bullying in the workplace, identify bullying behaviour (and behaviour that is not considered bullying) and explain how to report bullying.

The course will outline the various roles referenced in the Code, including the Contact Person, who will act as the first point of contact for anyone making a bullying complaint. The course will also explain how organisations can ensure their anti-bullying policy complies with the Code. In this regard, it should be noted that a failure to comply with the Code is not an offence in and of itself, however, non-compliance with the Code can be relied upon in any legal proceedings including hearings before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. Having a policy that is not in line with the Code can also leave organisations vulnerable to criminal proceedings under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 if they have failed to provide their employees with a safe place of work.

 

Who needs this Workplace Bullying training?

Advice from top employment lawyers is that workplace bullying training is completed on day one of employment and then refreshed regularly to ensure all staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in keeping the workplace harassment-free. Providing all staff with training will ensure a workplace where any conflict or issues around behaviours are dealt with, fairly and effectively.  

 

Price

The standard rate of this course is €40 per staff member, however, depending on the number of staff you have, discounts may be available.
This course is only available when implemented for all staff, it is not available in small batch purchases.
  
To discuss your training options or if you wish to discuss bespoke training needs regarding the inclusion of in-house documents in this eLearning programme, please contact a member of our eLearning team today - glen@legal-island.com.

     

What does this course cover?
This course was designed specifically for organisations based in Ireland, in partnership with the employment law team at Ogier Leman LLP.

Topics covered within the course include:

What is (and what is not) bullying at work

What is harassment at work

What are the effects of bullying at work

How to prevent bullying at work

What employees should do if they are concerned about bullying in their workplace

To get a FREE demo of this eLearning course on behalf of your organisation, simply complete the form below:
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Additional Resources

  

As well as the provision of awareness training for all employees as mentioned above, the Code outlines the requirement for the appointed Contact and Nominated person/s to have a full and clear understanding of their role, as well as their duties and obligations under the Code.

Legal Island has created a training course for both the Contact and Nominated person, designed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to fulfil your role.

   

eLearning Course

 

Workplace Bullying – The Role of a Contact Person

The purpose of this course is to raise awareness of bullying and explain the role of a contact person in resolving bullying in an organisation.

The Code of Practice states that there is value in appointing a contact person to act as the first step for anyone enquiring about a possible bullying case. Their role is to help employees clarify what they are experiencing and empower them to decide what course of action, if any, they may wish to take. The role can be crucial, as it often helps to resolve matters earlier and more effectively.

What's covered? 

+ What is bullying at work

+ What are the effects of bullying at work

+ How to prevent bullying at work

+ The role of a contact person in resolving bullying at work

Click here for a FREE demo
eLearning Course

  

Workplace Bullying – The Role of a Nominated Person

The purpose of this course is to raise awareness of bullying and explain the role of a nominated person in resolving bullying in an organisation.

The nominated person is a very important role and is pivotal in altering bullying cultures and handling complaints effectively. An employer will nominate a person who has had appropriate training and is familiar with the procedures involved to deal with the complaint on behalf of the organisation.

What's covered? 

+ What is bullying at work

+ What are the effects of bullying at work

+ How to prevent bullying at work

+ The role of a nominated person in resolving bullying at work

Click here for a FREE demo

   

   

Key Stats

What our customers are saying:

97%

of users said they found the courses beneficial for their organisation

96%

of users said they found the courses convenient and easy to use

96%

of users said their knowledge of the compliance topic area improved

94%

of users said they would recommend our eLearning courses to other organisations

   

You're in good company

It is important our employees understand what support is available to them and what constitutes bullying and harassment. The content was very relevant and got employees thinking, the feedback we received from our staff was excellent. eLearning has also strengthened our HR inductions as they are now included as part of this process.

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Andrea Swift

- HR Generalist, Pat O'Donnell & Co.
Legal Island’s eLearning compliance training has been trusted to train over 200,000 employees in top public, private and third sector organisations across the island of Ireland including:
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