This document outlines the issues with verbally aggressive supervisors in the workplace and provides strategies for dealing with such situations. It describes inappropriate behaviors by supervisors such as teasing employees, pressuring them to perform inappropriate tasks, and excluding them from work events. The document recommends that employees be aware of their rights and policies regarding harassment. It suggests preventing such issues through awareness campaigns and ensuring supervisors understand appropriate conduct. When faced with an aggressive supervisor, the document advises talking to managers, HR, or external organizations to resolve conflicts.

1. Maree had a boss who was
crazy!!!
The behaviour carried out by the supervisor was extremely
inappropriate and unreasonable and I am here to point out that this
does not need to happen to you

2. Hi, I am your Human Resources Officer
(And I’m not crazy)
flikr. (2013). Social PR (image). Retrieved from:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/socialprro/8421075579/

3. What the issue is with verbally aggressive
supervisors
• So what is the issue…
To outline the rights of you as an employee when it comes to
harassment from your supervisor and to let you know that there are
regulations that must be followed and to be aware of when entering
the workforce.
• And what it is not…
Reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable manner

4. Recognising verbally aggressive supervisors
• When the supervisor expresses hostile verbal messages to an
employee.
• When an employer repeatedly acts unreasonably towards a group of
workers or an individual
• The behaviour creates a risk to health and safety
• Victimising, humiliating, intimidating or threatening

5. How would supervisors behave aggressively
• The reasons that outline supervisor harassment include
• Teasing or practical jokes on employees
• Pressuring an employee to behave inappropriately or to perform an
inappropriate task that is out of their job description
• Excluding an employee from work-related events or information for
the employee to know in order to be promoted

6. How to recognise the issue
Awareness: how to recognise the problem
• Workers should be aware of policies and the need to follow them in
performing their jobs
• Employees are aware of their rights
• Supervisors are aware of their actions and behave appropriately

7. Preventing the issue
• The problem may be prevented through knowing how to spread
awareness
• Through posters
• Through emails
• Through speeches

8. Preventing the issue
• By handing out booklets on workplace behaviour before you start
working
• Employees must know about their rights before they start working
• Supervisors must be aware of their rights too
• Looking at online sites such as: fairwork.gov, Department of Human
Affairs.com.au

9. Strategies to adopt when faced with the issue
to resolve conflict
• Make sure it is not you taking it personally or misunderstanding what
is being said because you either saw it an a personal attack or you
didn’t know it was in your job description
• Talk to:
• The manager (tell them they are behaving inappropriately)
• A workplace health and safety representative

10. Strategies to adopt when faced with the issue
to resolve conflict
• Talk to:
• The human resources department
• Contact:
• Australian Human Rights Commission.
• State authority and safety

11. Reference list
• Department of Consumer and Employment Protection Government of Western Australia (n.d). Prevention
and management of violence, aggression and bullying at work. Retrieved from:
http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/documents/Code_of_Practice/MSH_COP_PreventionManagementOfViolence.p
df
• The Fair Work Commission (n.d). Bullying & harassment. Retrieved from:
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/bullying-and-harrassment
• Wise Geek (n.d). What Are the Most Common Workplace Issues?. Retrieved from:
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-most-common-workplace-issues.htm
• Australian Human Rights Commission (n.d). Good practice, good business Eliminating discrimination and
harassment from your workplace. Retrieved from: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/information-employers-fact-
sheet-workplace-bullying
• Australian Public Service (APS) bullying (n.d) .Maree’s Story – A Neurotic APS Director on a Power Trip.
Retrieved from: http://www.apsbullying.com/uploads/8/9/6/8/8968132/_marees_story.pdf
• Careerealism (n.d). 9 Strategies For Dealing With A Passive Aggressive Boss. Retrieved from:
http://www.careerealism.com/passive-aggressive-boss/
• flikr. (2013). Social PR (image). Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/socialprro/8421075579/