Eye-rolling, sarcasm, and gossip could lead to workplace legal trouble
Can you honestly say that you haven't been sarcastic, engaged in idle gossip or rolled an eye or two when it came to your colleagues?
The pandemic has definitely changed the way people have been working. Many companies have evolved into remote working circumstances, while others have returned to a state of normalcy with colleagues coming back into the office setting.
While some workers embraced the remote working culture, others have admitted that they work best in a team setting at the office. So bearing all that in mind, last week there was an update on the Code of Conduct Law from the Department of Labour in South Africa.
Read more: Labour Department warns of UIF scams
At first glance, this doesn't sound intimidating at all. But upon taking a deeper look, we find that "The refreshed laws, which replace existing legislation on workplace harassment, are certainly an eye-opener."
The new Code of Conduct Law clearly stipulates and advises both employers and employees as to what unfair behaviour and non-negotiables are when dealing with your colleagues, your managers, and with subordinates. (The South African)
Here is when things get a bit spicy. Just remember that the purpose of this law has been to eliminate harassment in the workplace.
So when the section about passive-aggression and negative gossip is mentioned, it leaves many people either feeling just and happy, or irate that this would even be a consideration.
"Passive-aggressive or covert harassment may include negative gossip or jokes at someone else’s expense, sarcasm, condescending eye-contact [such as eye-rolling], facial expressions/gestures, mimicking to cause ridicule, ‘invisible’ treatment, marginalisation, social and professional exclusion, and deliberate sabotage.” (Department of Labour)
For more from East Coast Radio
Among other things, it is also noted that bullying, whether in person or online, also constitutes as going against the code and can lead to disciplinary action - or even dismissal.
As much as this is such an inclusive way of dealing with harassment in the workplace, it also teaches us that any type of behaviour that infringes on another person feeling like they are being attacked or victimised is not acceptable.
Image Courtesy of Unsplash Website