Office Bullying and Harassment Policy Volume Nov 2013 | Page 23

Workplace policy statement
Employers must develop a written policy statement clearly declaring that workplace bullying and
harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Employers must also ensure workers are made
aware of the policy statement.
The policy statement could include examples of what is, and what is not, acceptable workplace
behaviour. Employers may wish to state the consequences for anyone who bullies and harasses
another person in the workplace.
A sample policy statement and tips for creating an effective policy statement are available at
www.worksafebc.com/bullying.

Preventing or minimizing bullying and
harassment
Employers must take steps to prevent, where possible, or otherwise minimize, workplace bullying
and harassment. This means that if an employer is aware of circumstances that present a risk of
workplace bullying and harassment, preventative measures must be put in place.
This might include providing direction and supervision to affected workers, offering training on
managing difficult situations, or imposing workplace arrangements to minimize the risks of bullying
and harassment. For example, in an environment where clients are known to be verbally aggressive,
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