The most common reason people remain silent in a toxic environment is fear of retaliation. They see what happened to the Muhammed Kendirci Turkish apprentice and they realise that bullies often have the support of the group.
The Shield of General Protections
In Australia, the law provides a shield called a General Protections claim. It is illegal for an employer to fire you, demote you, or treat you poorly because you exercised a "workplace right"—and complaining about bullying is a workplace right.
If a prank goes wrong, or if you are being harassed under the guise of "banter," you are protected. The workplace bullying leading to death in other parts of the world reminds us why these laws exist: to ensure that duty of care is more than just a phrase in an HR manual.
You have the right to a safe workplace. If you are being bullied, the law is on your side.
Read our expert guide on how to deal with workplace bullying pranks and lodge a claim: Workplace Bullying Pranks, Your Rights & Lessons from Recent Tragedies.
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