With the recent headlines at the University of the
Witwatersrand, workplace harassment has once again come under the
spotlight in South Africa. Although not a new phenomenon, workplace
harassment, including acts of bullying, discrimination and sexual
harassment, has been identified as one of the most rapidly
increasing workplace problems throughout the world. Recent
statistics report that in the United States, up to 4 million
employees are likely to experience some form of workplace
harassment per year, while the United Kingdom has recently passed
anti-bullying legislation. Yet, despite its prevalence, workplace
harassment, and bullying specifically, continues to be
misunderstood, and receives limited attention from employers. As a
result, incidences remain underreported.
