Download a flowchart for a guide to Dealing with Intimidation and Assault.
Legal Factors
Relevant legislation makes it an offence to use intimidating behaviour in a threatening manner towards another person, or to assault another person.
Definitions
Intimidation means to over-awe someone with fear in order to influence their conduct. In a specific employment relations sense, intimidation refers to coercion of another person by threats of doing something or not doing something against that person’s wishes. This can result from threatening behaviour consisting of comments, insults, staring (“eyeballing”), standing-over someone in an aggressive or domineering manner or menacing behaviour.
Intimidation can occur face-to-face, via social media, or even indirectly by having someone else deliver a threatening message.
Assault means the act of intentionally applying or attempting to apply force to another person, directly or indirectly, or threatening by any act or gesture to apply such force to another person.
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct specifies that threats, abuse or physical violence are unacceptable and will be treated as potential dismissal offences.
Guidelines
When intimidation or assault occurs, follow the guidelines in the Intimidation and Assault Flowchart.
Also see Harassment and Bullying
Back to Specific Types of Misconduct