Suggested Level: Middle secondary
Learning outcome: By workshopping the principles of human rights within workplace contexts, we encourage a greater depth of understanding of these concepts and principles.
Materials and resources: Video – What is workplace bullying?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVeXxrh_OHQ
Suggested activities:
- Fish bowl simulation
Watch the video outlining workplace bullying, then distribute the following roles to be prepared and acted out through a simulation exercise. These players will be situated in the round with colleagues looking on and taking notes as these actors attempt to reconcile this bullying complaint in serving the common good.
- OH & S Workplace representative
- Employer
- Employee complainant
- HR Representative
Scenario: Susan claims that her line manager has indirectly bullied her over a long period of time. This has been pursued through unfair schedules and demands outside her contract, inflexible working hours and sustained unsubstantiated critiques of her work. As a single mother, this has created hardship at home, as Susan also has a child with a severe disability. This has all culminated in severe stress that is beginning to affect her ability to perform her normal workplace duties. Susan has lodged a bullying complaint with her O H & S workplace representative and is having an initial meeting with her company’s CEO in an attempt to find a remedy
- Group students according to their roles to enable them to hone their arguments. From your allocated perspective, identify and apply the principles of human flourishing whilst attempting to seek a remedy in serving the common good.
- Move to your directed roles as either audience or actors for session one simulation.
- Ate the end of 5 minutes, rotate students into each role until all students have had an opportunity to participate.
- Plenary: Reflect and report. Consider issues of gender equality and inclusiveness. How as a community can we flourish at all levels without leaving anyone behind and respecting the dignity of all as defined by the common good?