“Bullying is not always intentional, sometimes people do not realise their behaviour is harmful to others.”

A common practice in finance and insurance workplaces is setting performance targets. Targets can relate to calls, sales, referrals, policies, claims or behaviours and can be set and assessed on either an individual or team basis.

Target setting in itself is not bullying or harassment. Clearly communicating expectations in a workplace is a practice that should be encouraged, and targets can be a good way of tracking the degree of success of business strategies.

However, problems can arise when targets are not agreed, or are set without consultation with staff and become unreasonable or unachievable.

Setting an unreasonable or unachievable task can create stress. Stress created by unfair targets can pose a serious threat to workers’ health.

When managers, team-leaders and co-workers are under pressure from senior management to ensure staff meet unreasonable targets it can lead to bullying.

If this is happening in your workplace, as a union member there are things you can do about it.

FSU can help - call 1300 366 378