Verbal abuse. Unfair treatment. A company culture rife with cliques and exclusion. Everyone has a story about a “horrible boss”, or a toxic office environment that sucks the joy out of employees. These experiences are so common, they beg the question: Have we normalised bullying at work?

Workplace bullying is a pernicious phenomenon that significantly affects the Singaporean workforce, regardless of industry. Even those working from home aren’t safe, as bullying can take place over digital platforms. Women in particular are disproportionately targeted by workplace bullies, often being made to feel inferior purely on the basis of their gender – AWARE’s Workplace Harrasment and Discrimination Advisory has seen 68 calls pertaining to workplace bullying since last September.

Bullying takes a serious psychological toll on its victims, producing anxiety and depression. Of course, it can also hurt an individual’s career progression, as well as a company’s productivity.

How do we begin to tackle such a widespread problem? For starters, both employers and employees alike need to have a robust understanding of what behaviours are unacceptable in professional settings. Join AWARE and Catalyse on Thursday, 27 August for a conversation on workplace bullying. We’ll highlight the behaviours—both overt and subtle—that constitute bullying, and discuss options for at-risk employees.

Maybe you’ve experienced workplace bullying or other forms of harassment. Or you’re a HR professional looking to improve your own company guidelines. Or you simply want a better understanding of this destructive phenomenon, so as to be a more supportive bystander. All are welcome at this in-depth discussion.

Date: Thursday, 27 August 2020

Time: 8pm

Venue: Online (via Zoom)

Fee: Pay what you can (suggested donation of $5 per head)

Register here!

Our panellists

Mamta Melwani

Mamta Melwani is the Senior Executive leading AWARE’s Workplace Harrasment and Discrimination Advisory. She received a B.S. in Public Affairs and Policy from Baruch College, New York, and worked with the New York State Legislature for policy reform on women’s rights issues, including sexual violence, health care and education. She advocates for women to have access to work that provides protection from gender-based discrimination and harassment.

Caroline Callow

Caroline Callow is a Senior Facilitator with Catalyse Consulting, where she leads training on workplace harassment for companies in Singapore. She is an Occupational Psychologist by training and an active member of Singapore’s OD Network, Caroline is committed to building respectful, inclusive and high-performing systems in which people can achieve their fullest potential. She holds a Masters degree from Birkbeck, University of London. She is registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and holds the BPS’s psychological and psychometric qualification in test use.

Godelieve Van Dooren

Godelieve van Dooren is a Partner at Mercer and leads several industry Human Resources networks (comprising of large High-Tech, Life Sciences, FMCG, Chemical, Retail and Hospitality companies) where she works with leading clients to shape progressive and sustainable HR programmes. She also oversees Diversity & Inclusion initiatives for Mercer for ASEAN, and supports organisations in implementing D&I policies in the region.

Asiyah Arif

Asiyah is a specialist dispute resolution lawyer who acts for clients in sensitive high-value commercial disputes and advises on employment matters. She led AWARE’s SHOut! Campaign to lobby for greater protection against workplace sexual harassment, and its We Can! Campaign to change social attitudes towards violence against women. Asiyah is committed to elevating the voices and stories of minority women in Singapore, and uplifting women from all backgrounds and walks of life.