Wednesday 22 July 11:25
- 12:55
Hall: 02 - Teatrino
Chair and Presenter:
Searle Rosalind
Discussant:
Stone Louise
Division: Division 1: Work and Organizational Psychology
This symposium explores workplace violence and abuse, which costs organizations around $1.97 trillion. Taking a fresh perspective, we consider the complexities of workplace aggression and sexual harassment and abuse, identifying evidence-based perspectives to advance detection, deterrence and amelioration of multi-level consequences.
First, Fida et al's focuses on Workplace Aggression, considers the gap between academic evidence and prevention conceptualisation and operationalisation in policy. Adopting a multi-actor and multi-level approach, they show how prevention is often vague, using compliance measures or generic training, rather than differentiated interventions that align with primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. They outline a different means to prevention.
Second, Brough and colleagues examine Workplace sexual harassment, which adversely impacts victims, observers, organisations, and society. They explore prevention focusing on workplace risks. Drawing from a Australian mixed methods project, cultivating safe workplace conditions resistant to sexual harassment, and the evaluation of key workplace interventions they transformed risk contexts supporting safer ways of working.
Next Bowen considers trauma-informed leadership, and the IRIS Model framework, identifying four critical domains in which integration is required to break cycles of harm: Intrapersonal (internal emotional regulation); Relational (interpersonal trust); Institutional (organisational structures); and Systemic (broader societal factors). By considering leaders we consider a group central for restructuring environments allowing people to bring their whole selves, connect authentically, and contribute meaningfully to collective transformation.
Finally, Searle and Garippa explore reporting of sexual harassment and abuse. They identify how reporting itself can add further and new levels for trust violation. They consider how to enhance regulation through a trauma-informed approach, and identify upstream areas to help reduce these incidents, enhance its early detection, and ameliorate further escalations. They offer an evidence-based approach identifying the different stakeholders and stages where change is required.
Our discussant Dr. Stone will conclude this symposium.
