South African labour law places a clear duty on employers to protect employees from workplace harassment. Here's what you need to know about tackling workplace bullying through the legal channels available.
Imagine dreading Monday mornings not because of your workload, but because of a colleague or manager who constantly belittles, isolates or intimidates you. Many employees endure this silent suffering, mistakenly believing that a toxic manager is simply part of the corporate culture. When they finally complain, they are often told to "toughen up" or adapt to a "high-pressure environment".
In South Africa, workplace bullying is no longer merely a human resources issue. It may constitute a serious legal violation. South African labour law places a clear duty on employers to protect employees from workplace harassment. Here's what you need to know about tackling workplace bullying through the legal channels available.
In 2022, South Africa introduced the Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace. Issued under the Employment Equity Act (EEA), the Code recognises bullying as a form of harassment that may amount to unfair discrimination.
The Code defines harassment as unwanted conduct that impairs a person's dignity or creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive working environment. Bullying is not limited to physical behaviour and may take many forms.
