On-Demand Training: Preventing & Resolving Bullying in the Workplace

On-Demand Training: Preventing & Resolving Bullying in the Workplace

We are delighted to be able to bring you our Preventing & Resolving Bullying course as on-demand training!

The consequence of bullying at work can be significant for employees and employers, including high staff turnover, poor morale, legal costs in defending claims and an overall unhealthy atmosphere to work in. 

There is a new unified Code of Practice for Employers and Employees On The Prevention And Resolution of Bullying at Work from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Health and Safety Authority. It applies to all workplaces in Ireland, irrespective of whether employees work at a fixed location, at home or are mobile.

It provides practical guidance for employers on identifying and preventing bullying at work arising from their duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.  It also applies to employees in relation to their duties under the 2005 Act to ‘not engage in improper conduct or behaviour that is likely to endanger his or her own safety, health and welfare at work or that of any other person’.

This online training is a must for anyone dealing with bullying complaints in the workplace, either formally or informally addressing questions such as:

  • Have you updated your bullying policy?
  • Have you appointed ‘nominated persons’?
  • Do you know the difference between bullying and strong line management?
  • What are the consequences of an employer failing to adhere to the Code? Ignore the Code at your peril!

Dr Gerry McMahon, MD of Productive Personnel Ltd and WRC Adjudicator, and Bláthnaid Evans, Partner & Head of Employment Practice at Leman Solicitors, guide you through sessions including:

  • An Overview of the New Code
  • Bullying and Harassment – the same or different?
  • Bulling or Effective Management?
  • One Policy or Two?
  • Dealing Informally with Complaints: The Role of the Contact Person
  • Secondary Informal Process: The Role of the Nominated Person
  • When all Else Fails…
  • Q&A sessions throughout the day

You’ll leave this event with a clear understanding of what you need to do within your organisation to ensure your policies and procedures for dealing with bullying in the workplace are up to date and in line with the new Code.

What do I all get?
You'll get the recordings of all sessions so you can train on-demand, plus all the accompanying notes and slides.

What are the benefits of on-demand training?

Get up-to-date with employment law legislation in Ireland quickly and at your own pace with on-demand training. Gain a comprehensive overview in a convenient, easy-to-use, easy-to-learn format.

Benefits of on-demand training

 

Price

Standard Rate: €295

Programme

Time

Session

9.20

Welcome and Introductions to our speakers for today

9.30

An Overview of the New Code

Dr Gerry McMahon, MD of Productive Personnel Ltd, outlines the main areas of the new code, highlighting changes and additions from the previous two versions.

9.50

Bullying and Harassment – the same or different?

The terms bullying and harassment are often used interchangeably, but they are in fact two distinct concepts. While the new code is focused on eradicating bullying in the workplace it is important to be aware of the differences between the two. 

Bláthnaid Evans, Head of Employment at Leman Solicitors, leads this interactive session with a discussion around the legal definitions of the concepts, including cyber bullying and harassment, and areas of overlap.

10.20

Q&A with Bláthnaid and Gerry

10.40 

Morning Break

11.10 

Bulling or Effective Management?

The code highlights the fact that management techniques such as providing objective criticisms and corrections to provide constructive feedback are not usually considered to be bullying and goes on to outline examples of what actions are not considered to be bullying.  However, there is often a wide difference in perception among employees from those who are very sensitive and take things very personally to those who are not easily offended.

In this session Gerry McMahon outlines the potential differences between bullying and strong management providing guidance on the types of questions that should be used to elicit information to help determine the way forward.  Gerry also touches on the new Right to Disconnect Code and the implications of this for management.

11.30 

Q&A Gerry

11.40 

One Policy or Two?

The new unified code applies to workplace bullying but also states that employers may opt to have one procedure/policy that deals with both bullying and harassment procedures. 

In this session, Bláthnaid Evans discusses the pros and cons of having separate bullying and harassment policies or having one Dignity at Work Policy that is compliant with the new code and the IHREC code. 

12.05 

Screen Break

12.15 

Dealing Informally with Complaints: The Role of the Contact Person

The new code places greater emphasis on informal resolution of complaints, particularly where the parties involved must continue to work together.  It highlights two distinct and separate roles for employees – the contact person and the nominated person.

In this interactive session, Dr Gerry McMahon summarises the main steps involved in informal resolution and highlights the skills and training required to ensure the first category – contact persons - tasked with informal resolution are properly equipped to do so.

12.45 

Q&A Gerry and Bláthnaid

13.00 

Lunch

14.00 

Secondary Informal Process: The Role of the Nominated Person

In this interactive session Gerry McMahon focusses on the role of the ‘nominated persons’ involved in leading the secondary informal process – a new concept outlined in the unified code.  This is a much more involved role (with elements of coaching and mediation) and Gerry offers practical guidance for employers on how to recruit and train nominated persons required under the new code. 

14.30 

Q&A

14.45 

When all Else Fails…

In this final session of the day, Bláthnaid Evans considers the next steps for an employer when the informal processes do not work, and the complaint needs to be dealt with under the formal part of the process.

Bláthnaid outlines the key indicators of good practice in managing complaints formally and will also discuss the role of the WRC/HSA when all internal processes have been concluded.

15.15

Final Q&A Bláthnaid and Gerry

15.45

Close  

Testimonials

"This course has prepared me to update the policies and prepare training for all staff, I feel much better equipped to do that now. Gerry knew the subject very well and I really liked how he put the code into context with case law. Bláthnaid gave great insight into the employee law perspective relevant to the code and answered all questions clearly and concisely."
Therese Donovan, HR Executive, Foundation for Investing in Communities Ireland/Business in the Community Ireland

"Very well organised and presented. I thought the chat function worked really well. It met its objectives and really outlined the extent of the work ahead to implement this code of practice. Gerry's experience and knowledge shines through. Very practical approach and it's evident that he knows the code inside out."
Martina Tobin, HR Manager, Arrabawn

"Well informed speakers. Gerry was easy to listen to and he had a wealth of information that he shared and answered all questions on the new code in a manner which could be related to. Bláthnaid was a well-balanced speaker with the legalities of the code and its practice.
Fiona Brady, HR Officer, Irish Museum of Modern Art

"It was great from start to finish."
Jared Warner, Accommodation Manager, The Kingsley / Fota Collection

"Very well-run training and very well organised."
Paul Cully, HR Administrator, Sonas

"I found it excellent – Gerry was really expert, he was very respectful of the participants and readily answered all questions. He was a fund of information and had a style that combined sharing of knowledge with a sense of humour and a very collaborative approach."
Susie Hall, Principal, Susie Hall Meditation

"I liked the course content & the course instructor, Gerry McMahon."
Elaine De Courcy, SDCC

"Good course content and course leader."
Barry Kavanagh, HR Manager, Houses of the Oireachtas Service

"Blathnaid presented great, and I came away with useful hints and tips that I can apply and approve on in my working day."
Carmel Kelly, HR Officer, Sam Dennigan & Company

Presenters


  • Dr Gerry McMahon
    Dr Gerry McMahon Managing Director
    Productive Personnel Ltd

    Gerry McMahon is acknowledged as a national expert in the area of People Management and Employee Relations.  He has over 40 years’ practical experience working as an advisor/consultant in the area, across a range of sectors.  He also has extensive experience working as a consultant, trainer, facilitator, team builder, negotiator, adjudicator, mediator, coach, investigator, researcher, arbitrator and expert witness on behalf of a wide range of Government departments, public sector enterprises, semi-state entities, blue chip companies, professional institutes, trade unions, staff associations, employer and community/voluntary and religious organisations.

     

  • Bláthnaid Evans
    Bláthnaid Evans Partner & Head of Employment Practice
    Ogier Leman LLP

    Bláthnaid has extensive experience in all areas of employment law, having trained in one of the leading trade union / employee firms and subsequently working in a top 5 law firm.

    She advises on all contentious and non-contentious issues, with substantial experience in advising clients before all employment law forums including the WRC, Labour Court and High Court for employment-related injunctions.

Event details

Duration

Over 6 hours of content

Date

30 June 2022

Location

Online Training

Price

Standard Rate: €295