Workplace bullying

Bullying may be experienced at any stage in your career. It is unacceptable in any workplace. Nurses, midwives and students who are bullied may experience:

feelings of shame and isolation
psychological stress
lowered self-confidence and self-esteem
depression and/or anxiety
PTSD and suicidal thoughts (in extreme cases)

Bullying - what it is, what is isn't

Bullying is repeated and unreasonable behaviour that can create a risk to health, safety and wellbeing. Bullying behaviour includes victimisation, humiliation, intimidation, or threats. A single incident isn't workplace bullying.

It’s important to understand the difference between feedback, performance management and bullying. Giving feedback or managing performance that is justified and reasonable is not bullying.

Identifying bullying is not always straightforward as bullying behaviours can be subtle. If you’re unsure if what you’re experiencing is bullying, seek out a trusted colleague, mentor or friend, or call us to talk it through.

Harmful to us, our patients, our workplaces

Workplace bullying not only affects the person being bullied. It also impacts negatively on other staff and workplace culture. This can result in low staff morale, increased sick leave and high turnover. Perpetrators may be managers, supervisors, colleagues or other employees, patients and relatives.

Personal skills that can deter bullies

Those most vulnerable to bullying include students, new graduates and overseas-qualified nurses and midwives. Staff who feel confident speaking up tend to face less bullying or incivility, and their wellbeing is less affected.

Our workplaces must prevent bullying

As nurses and midwives we have professional obligations to contribute to workplaces free from bullying. This is outlined in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. Work environments built on a positive culture of mutual respect can help prevent and eliminate bullying behaviours.

Nurse leaders can help prevent workplace bullying. They should tackle unacceptable behaviours to deter bullies and help create an open, safe organisational culture.

In a 2021 study, 38.8% of participants reported weekly or more frequent incivility or bullying. Nurses aged 25–34 years reported incivility or bullying and extreme behaviour more often than other staff (J. Westbrook, 2021).

Bullied or harassed at work?

Have a confidential chat with a nurse or midwife who understands.

Contact us

Definition: workplace bullying

Repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers creates a risk to health and safety. Unreasonable behaviour includes victimisation, humiliation, intimidation, or threats.

A single incident of unreasonable behaviour is not considered to be workplace bullying. However, it may have the potential to escalate and should not be ignored (WorkSafe Tasmania).