A recent survey has revealed that almost one in three young people have been bullied or have witnessed bullying at work.

 

SA Unions State Secretary, Janet Giles says the Australia-wide survey by Essential Research, has found some deeply concerning statistics about the rate of workplace bullying.

 

"Thirteen per cent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 said they had been bullied at work, with another 19% having witnessed it.”

 

"We know from our other work with young people that they are less familiar with their rights at work, and are more often in part-time or casual work where they worry that if they speak out they will lose their jobs."

 

"What's most concerning about the survey is that 65% of the bullying is reported to have come from employers or managers."

 

"This figure rises to 74% for those in part-time work."

 

"These are the people with the power to hire and fire, increasing the likelihood that young people will feel intimidated into remaining silent."

 

"We clearly need stronger national laws against bullying to stop it happening in the first place, rather than dealing with it when it has already occurred."

 

Coordinator of the Young Workers Legal Service, Anne Purdy says the Service took 450 calls last financial year, and a huge number of them related to workplace bullying.

 

"We see this as a major occupational health and safety issue for young people."

 

"It is a dreadful thing to happen to them in what is often their first job, and the cases we have seen reveal young people suffer depression, anxiety and are unable to work as a result."

 

"We have seen some cases where this behaviour is excused as some kind of work 'initiation'.

 

"But it is wrong, and it leaves young people feeling that all work involves bullying, and they become afraid to try again in another job."