Workplace bullying is becoming more and more prevalent and an ever-increasing financial and personal burden on ourselves as individuals, on business and on society generally.

According to Bill Shorten, the Parlimentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services (8/3/10), Safe Work Australia recorded over 4,000 complaints of workplace bullying or harassment made to state authorities over the preceding three years.

The financial cost of workplace bullying in Australia is estimated to be between $6-$36 billion each year, the costs including indirect costs such as absenteeism, staff turnover, staff re-training, loss of productivity, legal costs and opportunity costs.

Workplace bullying also has an enormous impact on individual victims and their families, with 50 of those aforementioned 4,000 complaints resulting in suicide or attempted suicide.

Up until now, there have generally only been financial sanctions that were imposed on the bully for his/her actions, despite there being in all legal jurisdictions in Australia a likely cause of action under current criminal laws.

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http://www.crimeatthecoalface.com/2011/08/workplace-bullying-its-a-crime