Sister Campaign's For Bullying Victim - 14yr old Kodi Pearson Bullied at School & on Facebook

Tayla Pearson’s fight to tackle bullying that led to brother’s suicide

SEVENTEEN-year-old Tayla Pearson is on a mission to tackle the devastating scourge of bullying.

The aspiring Brisbane-based model’s world fell apart last year when her beloved younger brother Kodi, 14, took his life after suffering from bullying, both online and at school.

VIDEO MESSAGE from Tayla

“We were like best friends, we were always together,” Tayla told The Courier-Mail.
“The experience has changed me, it has made me think about all the little things people do to others. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all,” she said.
 Both Tayla, who completed Year 12 last year, and Kodi, who was in Year 9, attended St Thomas Moore College in Sunnybank.

Tayla Pearson holds a picture of her brother Kodi. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Tayla said her brother always came across as a happy student who didn’t have a care in the world, but she was one of the few people who knew about the bullying he experienced.

Tayla Pearson with her brother Kodi, who committed suicide last year. Picture: Supplied
She said that some days he would fake being sick to try to avoid school, but even when he missed class, the torment would follow him home online. “Not only was he receiving grief in school, he wasn’t able to escape from it at home either,” she said.

The Courier-Mail has been unable to reach the school for comment.

Tayla is now working with a number of schools, including Ipswich Grammar, to help teach teenagers about the tragic consequences of bullying.

She hopes that by sharing her experience and speaking candidly about the loss of her brother, other high school students will think twice before bullying.

Tayla is also using a national model search – the Australian Supermodel of the Year competition, to be held this month in Bali – as a platform to raise awareness about youth mental health.
“Having that exposure behind you means you have the opportunity to get the message out there more,” she said.

Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/tayla-pearsons-fight-to-tackle-bullying-that-led-to-brothers-suicide/news-story/15a8613491b10ea3e90edda1cc6ba9a7

Australian Workplaces face Bullying Blitz - WorkSafe Victoria inspectors will conduct 40,000 workplace visits a year.

• Respect at Work initiative launched
• Follows waitress's suicide
• Inspections, training, interviewing

MORE than 40,000 Victorian businesses will be subject to a blitz on workplace bullying following the suicide of teenage waitress Brodie Panlock.

Special Inspectors from the state's workplace safety body, Worksafe, will conduct snap inspections, lift awareness of bullying with training and interview employees, the Herald Sun reports.

Businesses that don't comply will be issued with notices forcing the employer to adopt an anti-bullying strategy.

The crackdown on bullying will also occur alongside a major advertising and awareness campaign.

WorkSafe wants workers who are being bullied to report the offences and keep a record of the events.

The safety body has been overwhelmed by stress-related and bullying calls since the details of Ms Panlock's case became public, WorkSafe Minister Tim Holding said.

"This is something that everyone needs to take responsibility for and it should be stopped in its tracks," he said.

Ms Panlock committed suicide in September 2006 after enduring more than a year of bullying at a Victorian cafe.

Ms Panlock's former workmates - Nicholas Smallwood, 26, Rhys MacAlpine, 28, and Gabriel Toomey, 23 - all pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of persons.

Cafe owner Marc Luis Da Cruz and his one-man company, MAP Foundation, pleaded guilty to two charges, including failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment.

The four men were hit with a total of $335,000 in fines.

Ms Panlock's parents have called for tougher penalties, including jail sentences, to send a message that bullying will not be tolerated.

Victorian Premier John Brumby branded workplace bullies lowly cowards who would not be tolerated.

"Like any parent I want to know that we have safe and secure workplaces," he said.

"Like most parents, I found the case of Brodie Panlock very distressing," he said.

"Workplace bullying is a cowardly, low act.

"Respect At Work is all about helping young and vulnerable Victorians tackle workplace bullying."

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WorkSafe flying squad to crackdown on workplace bullies

State launches anti-bullying campaign

SWEDISH TV CAMPAIGN - Bullying in the workplace

Bullying in the workplace

An anti-workplace bullying video from a group called "Friends" in Sweden

NEWS - CAMPAIGN : UK Employers must be able to manage stress in the workplace

In the UK they are taking Workplace Stress seriously.

Agency worker safety campaign launched

On 9th February the £1 million government campaign'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' was launched to help employers know what their responsibilities involve regarding the health and safety of agency workers.

The scheme has also been launched to help employees hired through an agency know what they are entitled to and what rights they have in the workplace, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) reported.

A poster campaign will feature in public places, online and in local press, encouraging workers to be aware of their rights.

Over 13,000 employment agencies will be written to by Pat McFadden, business minister, to outline how they can make sure that their practices adhere to legislation.

Simon Garbett, chairman of the Employment Agents Movement, commented: "Enforcing minimum standards such as health and safety, minimum wages, holiday pay and ensuring workers pay is not reduced by illegal or unfair deductions is entirely appropriate."

In addition, Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, said agency employees are among the most vulnerable workers in the UK and said the campaign is "welcome" to help them, which may interest companies considering risk assessment training.

WHAT ONE HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANCY AGENCY IS SAYING ABOUT THIS:
NUR IS OFFERING A RANGE OF COURSES FOR EMPLOYERS

Norwich Union Risk Services is urging employers to be more vigilant of the signs of stress in the workplace and have procedures to manage it effectively.

According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures, work-related stress accounts for over a third of all new incidents of ill health and each case of stress-related absence is likely to lead to an average of one month off work.

Helen Toll, health and safety consultant, Norwich Union Risk Services, says that the Samaritan's Stress Down Day on 6 February was an important reminder that stress remains a very real issue, particularly in the current economic climate.

"Stress doesn't just affect the individual; it can have a detrimental impact on a business as well. It can lead to high levels of sickness absence, increased staff turnover and poor morale, all of which can all have a knock on effect on a company's reputation and customer satisfaction."

There are some practical tips that employers need to take into consideration in relation to managing stress in the workplace, according to Toll:

"Employers should establish a clear policy on stress management and other issues such as dealing with workplace harassment and bullying and violence to staff, which can be significant workplace stressors."

"Stress should be treated like any other workplace hazard. A risk assessment should be carried out, both at organisational level and within each team. It is important to work closely with employees and their representatives to identify the main sources of workplace pressure and develop realistic and workable solutions that proactively tackle the underlying causes of stress."

"Key to the successes of stress management programmes are senior management commitment, employee participation and the competence of line managers. It is essential that managers are provided with guidance and training in how to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress and understand the causes.

"They need to be clear about their role in stress prevention and management, know how to assess the risks and deal sensitively and supportively with employees who are struggling to cope."

"Employers should provide additional support for employees experiencing stress. This could be through the business's HR department or occupational health professionals. Providing access to confidential counselling services is also recommended."

Norwich Union Risk Services has just launched a new one day training course for employers. It includes advice on legal responsibilities, approaches to stress risk management and strategies for preventing and managing workplace stress.

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BAN Bullying At Work Day - UK

7 November is Ban Bullying at Work Day in the UK

The website devoted to the campaign, www.banbullyingatwork.com, stresses: "Workplace bullying is a silent disease affecting millions of people throughout the UK. Nobody is immune, so turning a blind eye or a deaf ear is no longer an option."

According to the mediation service Acas, bullying and harassment affect the dignity of one in 10 employees. They lead to increased levels of absence and staff turnover, as well as to reduced productivity and staff morale.

When dignity at work issues are not properly addressed and, for example, the distinction between strong management and bullying is not defined, then, Acas says, everyone suffers. Individuals can experience anxiety and depression, and employers can experience decreased productivity, higher levels of absence and an increased rate of staff turnover.

It is estimated that 18.9 million working days are lost to industry every year because of bullying.

Statistics provided by the Andrea Adams Trust indicate that out of 10,000 participants to an online survey, 49% of those who said they were being bullied indicated that their immediate manager was the bully. Even more worryingly, 47.8% of respondents stated that when they made a formal complaint, procedures were not followed correctly.

The Andrea Adams Trust's Founder and CEO, Lyn Witheridge, said: "With over four million employees expected to participate in a wide array of activities on 7 November, we encourage every employer to use the day to participate, as workplace bullying is now surely too costly to ignore any longer."

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