Workplace Conflict Risk Assessment
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Introduction |
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Components of Workplace Conflict Risk Assessment |
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Elements of Assessment |
Introduction
To comply with Occupational Health and Safety Legislation, it is critical, that management determine the extend of workplace bullying in the organisation. All organisations have conflict, however it is important to distinguish between normal conflict due to misunderstandings, communications styles and differences as distinct from repeated abuse through workplace bullying. Workplace bullying is both overt or covert, in many instances it is covert and subtle. It is not easy to detect and there is reluctance in staff to report incidences. However, it is essential to uncover workplace bullying to ensure staff are both healthy and safe at work.
Susan Carew is a trained market analyst and will assess the workplace by using a risk assessment check list to ensure organisations are complying with Occupational Health and Safety Legislation and to ask questions about minimising risk. A climate survey of employees will be undertaken to gather information on workplace bullying. This will be conducted together with focus groups to gather underlying information about how workplace bullying occurs and the underlying causes. It will also provide information on the corporate culture which is very important for understanding communication patterns and the underlying sense of power or indeed powerlessness.
A risk assessment of workplace bullying is essential, otherwise the organisation could be fined up to $900,000 for failure to comply. The assessment cannot guarantee compliance with legislation but can provide a very good indicator of the extent of workplace bullying and can provide information on whether further training on conflict resolution and wellbeing is required. Therefore, this becomes an important preventative strategy to ensure safe working conditions.
Components of Workplace Risk Assessment
| The Workplace Risk Assessment will focus specifically on workplace bullying. As part of the focus on bullying, issues of resilience and self esteem will be explored through the wellbeing aspect of the assessment.
The four steps in the Risk Assessment Process are set out in the chart on the right: |
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Elements of Assessment
Elements of assessment provide information on the organisational culture, environment, staff profiles and satisfaction, attitudes, policies and safety measures currently in place.
- Management structure
- Type of organisational culture
- Degree of organisational change
- OH&S policy – workplace bullying
- Conflict management process
- Workplace demographics
- Existing control measures
- Previous incidents and seriousness
- Sources of information (internal/external)
- Employee complaints/reports
- Employee attitudes, beliefs and understanding of bullying
- Nature of bullying behaviour
- Workplace design
- Workplace practices
- Job/roles
- Staff awareness of bullying
- Training programs
- Absenteeism trends
- Strategies to deal with workplace bullying
- Other comments