Imagine going to work every day, dreading what you might face when you get there. That’s what the 32 percent of Australian workers who reported feeling isolated faced in February of 2026, according to the TELUS Health Mental Health Index – Australia.
Workplace bullying continues to be a global concern, underscoring the urgent need for organisations to take proactive anti-bullying measures that foster emotional safety and psychological wellbeing at work.
The TELUS Health index highlights a clear link between workplace culture and employee wellbeing. Employees who perceive their workplace culture as unsupportive experience nearly double the annual productivity loss of their peers in supportive environments.
For organisations, the message is clear: creating safe, supportive environments cannot be left to chance. It requires intentional investment in education, capability-building, and ongoing support systems that equip leaders and managers to recognise risk, respond effectively, and embed respectful workplace behaviours.
A Skills-Building Approach to Bullying Prevention
Through training and other workplace resources, Workplace Options (WPO) provides organisations with the tools and expertise needed to strengthen emotional safety and protect the wellbeing of their teams.
WPO’s Global Trainer Network Manager, Katie Cavanagh, emphasises the value of this approach:
“Training is such a great opportunity to reach such a large number of people in quite a relatively time-effective way. Our sessions are highly engaging. They give you case studies, and they give you time to be able to put strategies into effect as well. They’re really important in terms of being able to drive awareness but also that behavioural change.”
According to Cavanagh, part of what makes this training so impactful is that it helps employees recognise what bullying and harassment can actually look like in the workplace. One example she often shares is workplace exclusion. While many people see excluding someone from a group as a normal part of workplace dynamics, repeated exclusion can be a form of bullying or harassment.
By bringing these less obvious behaviours to light, the training gives employees the awareness and resources to recognise when something is wrong and the confidence to seek support.
Managers at the Forefront
For managers, there is also a need to drive awareness and strengthen capability around psychological safety and psychosocial risk management.
“A really big part of being able to prevent bullying and harassment is psychological safety—making people feel safe to come forward in the first place,” Cavanagh explains. Part of this comes through training for employees, she says, but also through targeted development for leaders.
“It’s about creating a culture where people feel comfortable raising any issues they might have, and also confident that what they raise will be taken seriously by whoever they’ve reported it to.”
This is strengthened when managers and leaders are trained in how to build psychological safety, mitigate psychosocial risks, and practise inclusive leadership. In addition, Cavanagh encourages organisations to establish multiple reporting channels, ensuring employees have access to clear and confidential pathways for support.
By investing in these capabilities, organisations do far more than lower the risk of bullying; they also lay the foundation for stronger trust, wellbeing, and engagement across the workplace.
“When organisations take the time to really invest in mental health—whether through training or other initiatives,” Cavanagh contends, “it sends a powerful message to employees that their wellbeing is truly valued. This, in turn, contributes to a more open and supportive environment, where employees are more likely to speak up, seek help, and help create a safer, more respectful culture for all.”
The Takeaway
As Australian organisations confront a massive rise in bullying-related incidents (75 percent between 2021-2025), the need for robust prevention and response strategies has never been more urgent.
With WPO, organisations gain the tools and insights needed to adopt a company-wide approach to bullying prevention, pairing awareness and education with practical support pathways and actionable frameworks that enable early intervention and drive lasting cultural change.
To learn more about the power of training in addressing workplace bullying, access our 2026 Global Learning Solutions catalogue or connect with us today to discuss tailored support for your organisation.
