The ABC news is reporting that the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles was allegedly advised by his chief of staff about potential bullying and inappropriate workplace behaviour within his office. The subsequent response from Mr Marles towards his chief of staff, Ms Jo Tarnawsky is now subject to a separate complaint. This situation provides an opportunity to consider what people should do when they receive a complaint of workplace bullying.
1. Well before determining whether the allegations of bullying are true, understand that it takes courage for someone to actually report an allegation of bullying. Most people avoid the issue completely, so it is important to respect the fact that someone has found the courage to come forward and to assure them that they have been heard.
2. Refer to what hopefully is a robust policy to guide you through the process of investigating and addressing the alleged behaviour respectfully and professionally. Make sure that all parties understand that the policy exists and that you will be following the process outlined in the policy.
3. Do not make subjective assumptions of guilt or blame by certain parties before completing the process of fully examining the circumstances.
4. Ensuring the safety and welfare of all staff, including the person complaining and the alleged perpetrator must be a priority. You may need to make some moves or changes to ensure the risk of continued exposure to inappropriate behaviour is eliminated as much as is reasonably possible. Have a plan on how to communicate those decisions in an impartial way which does not leave anyone feeling isolated or pre-judged and be very conscious of any possible perceptions of a person being punished before the process is completed by virtue of a repositioning or redeployment, even if only temporary.
5. Move quickly and keep everyone informed about your progress in following the policy.
6. Have an independent expert available to assist with an investigation or mediation to demonstrate fairness and professionalism. Don’t assume that you will have the skill set to deal with all aspects of a difficult matter.
Regardless of whether Ms Tarnawsky’s complaints are validated or not, the situation demonstrate that she did not have confidence in the process and has felt the need to engage a lawyer and go to the press. The reality is that 25% of the Australian workplace experiences bullying at some stage. Therefore having a strategy on how to manage circumstances where an allegation is made is prudent for all businesses and leaders in organisations.
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