Sending an apprentice to Bunnings for a can of striped paint is now against the law in WA

Workplace Initiation Rituals

Sending a new apprentice to Bunnings for a can of striped paint.

Forcing new employees to clean work toilets with a toothbrush.

Telling the new employee to drink goldfish water.

Just a bit of fun

Bosses laughed at these workplace initiation rituals which were designed to humiliate new workers. They were seen as “Just a bit of fun”.

Laughing at the new workers’ humiliation shows poor leadership and flags a shitty work environment. 

These “fun” pranks are called “psychosocial hazards” and they can impact on the physical and mental health of workers. 

Psychosocial hazards include:

• bullying 
• excessive work demands, and
• poor leadership practices

It just got harder to ignore, overlook or explain away psychological hazards as “just a bit of fun”.

 

New Code to create great workplaces

There is a new Code of Practice called Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace Code of Practice published by the WA Occupational Safety and Health Commission to support changes to the WA Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Implications for School Students

Work Experience

Doing work experience or work placements is usually pretty safe. Any organisation that is willing to volunteer to support your school has their heart in the right place. 

School based traineeships and apprenticeships

Students doing school based traineeships and apprenticeships may be more at risk as they are in the workplace longer and may be in workplaces where there aren’t many people.  

Part time work

Part time workers are most at risk. Young part time workers have low status in the workplace and are vulnerable to being treated badly.

Get to know the Code of Practice so that you know what your rights are.  Part time workers are usually not members of a union so they can’t relay on support if they are treated badly. The Code of Practice is designed to support you and other vulnerable workers and you don’t need to be a union member to get this protection. 

You can check out the list of things that the Code is trying to stop in Section 2.

Long term career impacts

There will be workplace procedures set up so that employees have someone to talk to about bad work practices. Workplace inductions will need to make sure that new workers are aware of how to make a complaint. 

There will need to be plans to eliminate toxic work practices. 

Hopefully support for young FIFO workers will improve, women will face less harassment in mining sites and isolated workplaces will need to be safe for all workers.

Check Psychosocial Hazards Overview HERE. 

Thanks Danielle

Danielle Kabilio told me about these changes when we were having a coffee last week. She is a Psychosocial Coach at Careers West and is helping workplaces to put in new systems and managing grievances that must be addressed under this Code of Conduct.

She sent in information and links for me to pass on.

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