Workplace bullying is a serious issue that affects hundreds of thousands of Canadians every year. Despite high-profile incidents of workplace bullying, like the alleged toxic workplace culture created by former Governor General Julie Payette, making front-page news over the past few years, it remains a pressing issue.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Jason Walker from University Canada West points out that the current approach to dealing with workplace bullying isn’t working. He argues that bullying should be treated as a public health issue, instead of being left in the hands of human resources departments. Walker writes: “Workplace bullying is a type of preventable violence that, by its very definition, meets the criteria of a public health issue.”

If workplace bullying were to be treated as a public health issue, the appropriate financial and legal resources could be allocated to preventing, intervening and addressing workplace bullying. By applying a public health mandate with a universal prevention focus, Walker believes we will finally see a decrease in the prevalence of workplace bullying.

Also today:

 

Eleni Vlahiotis

Assistant Editor, Business + Economy

Despite numerous high-profile cases of workplace bullying in recent years, bullying and harassment remain widespread. (Shutterstock)

Workplace bullying should be treated as a public health issue

Jason Walker, University Canada West

It’s clear the current workplace health and safety framework isn’t stopping people from getting bullied. It’s time to treat bullying as a public health issue and address the problem more effectively.

Indigenous histories often go unrecognized in institutional university memories. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Universities need to revisit their founding stories

Thomas Peace, Western University; Candace Brunette-Debassige, Western University

University histories need to be re-examined with attention to the role of Indigenous Peoples, connections to Residential Schools and universities’ fundraising efforts.

An army officer speaks with a firefighter amidst destroyed homes in Channel-Port aux Basques, N.L., on Sept. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Fiona was one of Canada’s worst natural disasters, but evacuations prevented greater losses in Atlantic Canada

Jack L. Rozdilsky, York University, Canada

Evacuations can save lives, as in the case of post-tropical cyclone Fiona. As more frequent extreme weather events are set to occur, it is important to have evacuation plans in place.

People with FASD experience a range of vulnerabilities both from the impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure on the brain and body, and from the adverse life experiences commonly associated with this disability. (Shutterstock)

Why suicide prevention support is crucial for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Kelly D. Harding, Laurentian University; Carly McMorris, University of Calgary; Dorothy Badry, University of Calgary

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a multifaceted disorder. There are complex reasons why this population may be at higher risk for suicide, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.

Building safer workplaces requires leaders who understand how years of resource constraints, unhealthy work environments, abuse from patients and a pandemic have contributed to overwhelming burnout and job dissatisfaction among workers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

How health-care leaders can foster psychologically safer workplaces

Angela Coderre-Ball, Queen's University, Ontario; Colleen Grady, Queen's University, Ontario; Denis Chênevert, HEC Montréal

The future of our health system depends on recruiting and retaining passionate and highly skilled health-care workers. It’s essential to build work environments where they feel supported and safe.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre greet each other as they gather in the House of Commons to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa on Sept. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Not again: Why another federal election may be on the horizon in Canada

Thomas Klassen, York University, Canada

Canadians went to the polls twice in two years, in 2019 and 2021. Here’s why yet another federal election likely looms in the fall of 2023 or the spring of 2024.

La Conversation Canada

Premier des huit matchs de la «Série du siècle: Phil Esposito, de l'équipe canadienne, et le joueur de hockey soviétique Vladimir Vikulov reçoivent la mise au jeu d'ouverture des mains du premier ministre Pierre Trudeau au Forum de Montréal, le 2 septembre 1972. (CP PHOTO/Peter Bregg)

Série du siècle : quand le hockey est devenu politique

Jean Lévesque, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

La mémoire de la Série du siècle, très politisé, est surtout canadienne. Elle a été l’un des rares moments où le Canada a été à l’avant-scène de l’affrontement est-ouest.

Parmi toutes les thérapies numériques proposées sur le marché, seulement une infime partie reçoit une homologation de la part d'une autorité de régulation, permettant ainsi en plus de sa commercialisation, son remboursement. (Shutterstock)

Des médicaments numériques qui bousculent les codes du monde pharmaceutique

Pierre-Marie DAVID, Université de Montréal; Cécile Petitgand, Université de Montréal; Jean-Christophe Bélisle-Pipon, Simon Fraser University; Léo Cadillac, Université de Montréal

Les thérapies numériques se distinguent en ceci qu’ils reçoivent une homologation de la part d’une autorité de régulation, permettant ainsi en plus de sa commercialisation, son remboursement.

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