Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination

Your rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

We are committed to providing a workplace free from bullying and harassment in any form and have “zero tolerance”. We expect staff members to behave in a professional manner, live our values through our behaviours and treat each other with dignity and respect. Northern Health encourages junior doctors to report bullying and harassment promptly, so appropriate measures can be taken. When reported, cases will be viewed as a serious matter and be investigated in a timely manner.

Workplace Bullying

Is the “repeated unreasonable behaviour directed towards an employee, or a group of employees that creates a risk to health and safety” as defined by WorkSafe Victoria. Examples of behaviour that could constitute bullying include:

Excluding someone from workplace activities or interaction

Giving someone the majority of unpleasant tasks

Imposing impossible deadlines

Verbal abuse

Humiliating through sarcasm or insults

Intimidation

Changing rosters with the intent of inconveniencing a particular staff member

Harassment

Is unwelcome physical or verbal conduct. Harassment in the workplace can take many forms:

Imitating someone’s accent

Spreading rumours

Offensive jokes or innuendo

Threats or insults

Name calling

The use of language that is not suitable in the workplace

Pushing, shoving or jostling

NH Policies

HR — Bullying and Harassment

Policy review: December 2027

Code of Conduct and Ethics

Policy review: December 2026