Delegates Bullying Fact Sheets - Bullying Factsheet 07 - Cultural Diversity

Australians are a diverse people of different backgrounds working together.

What is Cultural Diversity?

Diversity not only includes ethnic differences, but also gender, physical or intellectual disability, sexuality, personal style, fashion, specific industry or workplace culture.

We are a multicultural nation where 23% of the population was born overseas and a further 27% of the population has at least 1 parent born overseas.

Our culture is the sum total of the way we live.

Culture is sometimes compared to an iceberg - because we only see the 'tip of the iceberg'.

The Cultural Iceberg

Colour of Skin

Accent, Clothing,

Physical Characteristics

Values, Traditions

Bullying can threaten workplace diversity by marginalising people from different cultural backgrounds or people with different cultural experiences. Unions value cultural diversity,which means we work to prevent practices such as bullying which may unfairly target people because of their racial, ethnic or religious background, disability or sexuality.

Cultural Differences

Some cultural backgrounds may affect whether people will complain about bullying in the workplace. For example:

• In some cultures people often defer to authority figures.
• In some cultures women may defer to men.
• In some cultures men believe it is a sign of weakness to complain.

Union Members must be aware that cultural differences may inhibit people complaining about bullying in the workplace.

Cultural Sensitivities

In some cultures different practices are considered normal, whereas people from another culture may misinterpret them. For example:

• Speaking loudly is common in some cultures, but may be perceived as overbearing, angry, threatening or intimidating by others.
• Wearing particular clothing and/or praying in the workplace may lead to intolerance.
• Union Members must be sensitive and respectful of cultural difference.

What We Can Do

People with different cultural backgrounds, and particularly new migrants, may have different levels of knowledge about the operation of the Australian Government and Australian workplaces, and where to go for help if they are bullied.

Labor Council has campaign materials to assist unions and workplaces to support workplace harmony.

For help or advice in the workplace contact your union or:

Labor Council of NSW
377 Sussex Street, Sydney 2000
Contact: Amanda Tattersall
Phone: (02) 9264 1691
Mobile: 0408 057 779
E-mail: a.tattersall@labor.org.au

Workers Health Centre
2nd Floor, 12 Railway Street,
Lidcombe 2141
Phone: (02) 9749 7666
Fax: (02) 9749 7566
Email: admin@workershealth.com.au
Website: www.workershealth.com.au

Contact a supportive community organisation:

Working Women's Centre
S1-4, 1 Barrack Lane, Parramatta 2150
Toll Free: 1800 062 166
Phone: (02) 9689 2233
Fax: (02) 9689 2841
Email: working_womens@fcl.fl.asn.au

Asian Women at Work Inc
Postal Address: PO Box 708
Darlinghurst 1300
Phone: (02) 9331 4230
Fax: (02) 9380 8159
E-mail: mail@awatw.org.au
Website: www.awatw.org.au

Case Study Five

A group of cleaners from the same ethnic background, who formed a gang, used to play practical jokes on their other workers, who were from different backgrounds. Some of them were minor, however it soon got out of hand and it left the workers feeling intimidated and eventually one of the workers was hurt. It was not until someone was injured that management intervened. The case was brought before the Commission, and the Commission criticised the workers and were highly critical of the employer for failing to deal with and stop the bad workplace behaviour.

Download more info:
Bullying Factsheet 07 - Cultural Diversity (pdf File) [ Get a player/reader for this file here ]

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