Amicus seeks Canadian-style law on bullying

A new law on "psychological harassment at work" in the Canadian province of Quebec shows that bullying can be regulated, claims the skilled and professional union Amicus.

An amendment to Quebec's employment law, passed in June, gives workers the right to bring a complaint if they experience psychological harassment at work.

The law defines such harassment as "vexatious behaviour that manifests itself in the form of conduct, verbal comments, actions or gestures" that are "repetitive", "hostile or unwanted", affect the person's "dignity or psychological integrity" and result in a "harmful work environment". Sexual harassment is included in the definition.

Examples of unacceptable behaviour include:

* making rude, degrading, abusive or offensive remarks;

* making remarks or gestures that seek to intimidate, belittle, ridicule or humiliate a person;

* spreading rumours;

* calling a person's convictions or private life into question;

* preventing a person from expressing themselves;

* seeking to isolate or destabilise a person; and

* engaging in reprisals.

The legislation is similar to the "Dignity at work bill" promoted by Amicus in the UK.

"The amendment to the Quebec Act echoes our original ambitions," said the union's head of safety, Chris Ball. "We want organisations to have effective dignity at work policies. We believe too that the law could provide an important encouragement to employers to do the right thing."

For more information about the Quebec law, visit the Workplace Bullying and Trauma Institute website at bullyinginstitute.org/advocacy/quebeclaw.html