Kerre Woodham: How do we define bullying in the modern workplace?

If we thought the issue of bullying was going to die down with an investigation being launched into the behaviour of Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell and everybody being told to cool jets and wait for the report.

Well, along comes an obscure Labour backbencher with an unsolicited op-ed in the New Zealand Herald that fired an absolute broadside at the Government parliamentary services and just about everyone who works there.

Hamilton West MP Dr Gaurav Sharma talks of gaslighting, stone walling and member-to-member bullying and while some have said he's just not used to the rough and tumble of politics, I'm sure there's an element of truth to what he's saying.  

About 300,000 people, accounting for 11 percent of the workforce, said that they had experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying in the previous 12 months.

Women were more likely to have experienced discrimination, harassment or bullying.

Workers in the 45 to 54 age group reported the highest rate of bullying at 14 percent, which sort of puts paid to the whole notion of young snowflakes coming into the workforce and complaining about bullying when all it is is robust language.

Asian/Maori ethnic groups account for 13 percent,  the rate for Pacifica and European ethnic groups was about 11 percent.

While it's pretty clear that an unprovoked attack on a younger pupil and a boarding house constitutes bullying, I'd argue it's a lot harder to define bullying in the modern workplace.

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