While we might pay attention to a damaged piece of machinery or a chemical spill we often overlook the non physical risks in a workplace. But while bullying and harassment may not be as visible, they are just as dangerous as the risks we can see. A productivity commission report in 2010 found that even though bullying and harassment tend to be more costly on average than claims for most types of physical injury they are given less attention (by both legislation and employers).<br />
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The same report estimates of the annual cost of workplace bullying to employers and the economy in Australia ranged from $6 billion to $36 billion. That equates to 3% of Australia's GDP and if bullying is prevalent in your business then it will be costing you a lot more than you think. Bullying doesn't just affect the person being bullied, but their families, the people they work with and if they leave their job the (poor) person who replaces them.