Sharp increases in reports of workplace bullying are becoming a focus of the anti-bullying campaign, as New Zealand moves towards the 5th annual Pink Shirt Day on Friday.
Hamilton-based Culture Safe NZ founder Allan Halse says workplace bullying has become a major issue at a time when much of the focus is on other bullying such as that in the schoolground or cyberspace.
He believes it has escalated since the 1991 implementation of the Employment Contracts Act, which stripped trade union authority. In 2009 figures showed at least 360,000 adults - 20 per cent of the work force - had been subject to bullying in the workplace, and he believes up-to-date research would show marked increases.
He says workplace bullying is a significant health and safety issue, and won't be resolved until treated as such.
It is treated as an employment issue, which employers often deny and try to identify as employment relationship issues and the problem of those complaining of being bullied.