HUMAN RESOURCES
Psychological injuries are not unlike
physical ones. Physical injuries may
become a causation of psychological
injuries and a significant barrier
to recovery if not addressed.
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587-583-6000 Load Fast and Go! www.GoGravel.ca
MORE
THAN
AUCTIONS
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his team – nicknamed “Mad Dog” (MD) – who consistently
exhibited bad behaviours (bullying, demeaning, condescend-ing,
making verbally abusive comments) toward colleagues.
MD was known to regularly reduce both male and female
coworkers to tears. It appeared to staff that CS either didn’t
know what to do or didn’t care because he continued to let
it happen, telling everyone how he “valued the work MD
did.” With CS ignoring the situation, it continued to worsen.
As a result of MD’s targeted attack on a co-worker (SO) –
normally an outgoing, happy individual – they became with-drawn
and distraught, feeling psychologically unsafe in the
workplace. It escalated to the point that when leaving the
office one day, SO was so distracted and upset they got in a
car accident. Eventually, the situation became so untenable
and, with no systems in place to address the issues, SO felt
the only option was to quit.
Consider the impact to the business’ ROI from an internal
and external perspective. An organization’s culture is defined
by the worst behaviour that you tolerate. You can have the
best programs and benefits, but if you tolerate objectionable
behaviour you are setting the overall tone for the organi-zation’s
culture. With the awareness of what is considered
acceptable in today’s workplaces and what isn’t growing
exponentially – particularly due to the #MeToo movement –
this story has threads that are still relevant. Harassment has
become one of the biggest workplace hazards of the current
decade.4 This awareness is an indicator there is rising concern
over mental health and wellness in the workplace.
In the world of health care, among our diverse First
Nations communities and throughout minority groups
worldwide, there is a term called “lateral violence,” used to
describe aggressive, destructive, blaming, isolating or harass-ing
behaviour, including intimidation, threats, gossiping,
withholding of information, inappropriate use of power
within a position, etc.5 Under the Occupational Health and
Safety Act, Regulation and Code and in respectful workplace
policies, these behaviours are referred to as harassment, vio-lence
and bullying, all of which may result in the evolution
and perpetuation of an unsafe work environment. Not unlike
physical trauma, psychological injuries can be devastating –
physical injuries may eventually heal but the emotional scars
left from psychological injuries can last a lifetime. A mental
28 www.albertaheavy.ca
/www.GoGravel.ca
/MoreThanAuctions
/www.albertaheavy.ca
