What is workplace moral harassment? The risks of leaving damage unattended, specific examples, and solutions.
2022.08.16
Moral harassment (moraharassment) is one of the most difficult types of harassment to define and is considered to be less visible. For this reason, there are many cases in which an employee becomes a perpetrator or a victim without being aware of it, and in many cases it is discovered when the employee takes a leave of absence or resigns from the company.
To prevent such situations, it is necessary for companies to take proactive measures to protect the working environment of their employees. This article therefore explains the characteristics and specific examples of moral harassment that occur in the workplace, as well as measures to prevent moral harassment.
Table of Contents
01Characteristics of Moral Harassment Occurring in the Workplace
What is Moral Harassment Occurring in the Workplace?
Risks of Leaving Workplace Moral Harassment Untreated
02Specific Examples of Moraharassment in the Workplace and How to Deal with It
Specific Examples of Moral Harassment in the Workplace
What to do when workplace moral harassment is suspected
03How to Resolve Moral Harassment Issues in the Workplace
Main places to consult on workplace harassment issues
Countermeasures against workplace moral harassment
04Protect your employees' working environment by taking measures against workplace harassment
Characteristics of Moral Harassment Occurring in the Workplace
Moral harassment occurs in a variety of places, including within the workplace, at home, and at school, and has become a social problem. First, let's review the characteristics of moraharassment occurring in the workplace and the risks of leaving the damage untreated.
What is moraharassment that occurs in the workplace?
The term "moral harassment" is a combination of the words "morality," meaning ethics, and "harassment," meaning harassment or bullying.
Moral harassment occurring in the workplace refers to behavior that causes mental distress to the other person through attitudes or words in the workplace, which leads that person to quit his or her job, or which deteriorates the working environment.
The characteristic feature of moral harassment is that anyone can be either a victim or a perpetrator, regardless of whether or not there is a hierarchical relationship. There are many cases where a person becomes a perpetrator of moral harassment without being aware of it.
Risks of neglecting workplace moral harassment
If preventive measures are neglected despite the occurrence of moral harassment, the victim's psychological stress may increase and he/she may suffer from mental illness. Specifically, depression, psychosomatic disorders, adjustment disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop, leading to leave of absence or retirement.
Companies and employers that allow moral harassment to go unchecked are in violation of their duty to consider the workplace environment, and may be held liable for claims for damages. There is also the risk of a decline in sales due to a damaged corporate image, an increase in the number of employees leaving the company, and a difficulty in recruiting human resources. There have been cases in which the perpetrator of moral harassment has been charged with insult, defamation, and other crimes.
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Specific Examples of Moral Harassment in the Workplace and How to Handle It
When workplace moral harassment becomes the norm, it can lead to a decline in productivity and motivation, as well as an exodus of human resources. If a suspected case is reported, promptly identify the cause and take countermeasures.
Specific Examples of Moral Harassment in the Workplace
Aggression that causes emotional distress is a typical example of workplace harassment. Specific examples include denial of one's appearance or humanity, bad-mouthing one's family, prolonged reprimands, imposition of personal chores, unfair personnel evaluations, and suggestions of demotion or restructuring.
Other acts that disconnect from relationships or isolate a particular employee also fall under the category of moral harassment. Typical examples include removing an employee from work without explanation, spreading unfavorable rumors, ignoring the employee, and excluding the employee from company events.
Excessive interference with private life is also considered moral harassment. Examples include persistent contact with employees on vacations and vacations, prying into the private affairs of those who do not want to be involved, and telling others about private matters.
What to do if you suspect workplace moral harassment
When a case of suspected workplace harassment occurs, the basic rule of thumb is to handle it through a consultation service that ensures privacy and is led by a specialist such as an industrial physician.
Unlike power harassment and sexual harassment, there is no clear definition of moral harassment, and it is difficult to judge. It is necessary to conduct hearings not only with the victim but also with the perpetrator and third parties to confirm the facts. In such cases, it will be easier to confirm the facts if there is evidence of the harassing behavior recorded. It is effective if there are still texts of e-mails and chats, IC recorder recordings, and testimonies from colleagues.
If it is difficult to resolve the issue internally, it is recommended to consider consulting an outside organization. If you have a legal advisor or other legal firm, contact them promptly and ask them to handle the matter.
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How to Resolve Workplace Moral Harassment Issues
Finally, we will explain where to consult and what to do about workplace harassment problems. Power harassment countermeasures became mandatory for large companies on June 1, 2020, and for small and medium-sized companies on April 1, 2022.
Since there are cases in which moral harassment leads to power harassment, it is important to create a workplace environment in which workers can work with peace of mind by establishing a disciplinary system and an internal system.
Main places to consult on workplace moral harassment issues
Minnano Han Rights Hotline (National Human Rights Consultation Dial)
Minnano Hanri Hanten 110 is a telephone service that provides consultation on human rights issues. Consultation on various types of harassment, discrimination, abuse, etc. is available. The telephone number is 0570-003-110. Callers are connected to the Legal Affairs Bureau or District Legal Affairs Bureau that has jurisdiction over their area.
If the person who wishes to consult with the Legal Affairs Bureau wishes to do so, he or she may ask to speak directly with the person at the counter. If the content of the consultation indicates that there has been a human rights violation, the center will initiate relief procedures.
Reference] Minnna no Jinrui Hibanken 110 (110 Human Rights for Everyone)
General Labor Consultation Corner
The General Labor Consultation Corner is a consultation service provided by the Labor Standards Inspection Offices and Labor Bureaus, and specializes in labor issues including moral harassment. The advantage of these centers is that they are free of charge and do not require an appointment, making it easy to consult with them.
Reference】 General Labor Consultation Corner
Kaiketsu Support
Kaiketsu Support is a service in which private businesses certified by the government provide support for dispute resolution. Specifically, organizations such as judicial scrivener associations and administrative scrivener associations are accredited in each region, and they handle everything from workplace problems to familiar issues such as inheritance and divorce.
Reference] Kaiseki Support
Houterasu (Japan Legal Support Center)
Houterasu is a consultation service established by the government. You can consult on all kinds of legal problems, both civil and criminal, such as unpaid wages and debts, as well as moral harassment. Depending on the nature of the consultation, Houterasu can introduce lawyers and cover the costs of legal services.
Reference] Houterasu
Countermeasures against workplace moral harassment
Clarification of Company Policy
In order to prevent workplace moral harassment, it is important to clarify that the company will not tolerate moral harassment. Specifically, the company should clearly state its policy against moral harassment in its employment regulations and collective labor agreement, and engage in activities to inform and educate employees about the policy.
Since moral harassment can occur regardless of rank and gender, it should not be limited to managers and leaders, but should be communicated to all employees. It is also advisable to establish disciplinary rules for perpetrators.
Establishment of a Consultation Desk
It is also effective to set up a consultation service as a measure to prevent harassment and make it known to workers. To enable employees with concerns to consult with the service at an early stage, posters should be created to provide information on how to use the service, and the service should be provided in cooperation with the labor union.
In order to actively promote the use of the consultation service, it is also necessary to protect the privacy of those who seek advice and to inform them that they will not be treated unfairly because of the fact that they have sought advice.
Establish an internal investigation system
Harassment prevention measures also include the establishment of an internal investigation system in case a problem arises. Promptly confirming the facts when a consultation is received, punishing the harasser, and taking measures to prevent recurrence will ensure that employees can work with peace of mind.
Implementation of harassment training
Conducting harassment training is also an effective way to prevent workplace harassment. It helps to disseminate the company's stance on harassment within the company, and repeated training can lead to the acquisition of correct knowledge of harassment and early detection of problems.
There are two main methods of conducting harassment training: in-house or outsourced. e-learning systems are recommended because they allow you to optimize the training content for your company and reduce costs compared to outsourcing.
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Protect Your Employees' Working Environment by Taking Steps to Prevent Moral Harassment in the Workplace
Many companies understand the importance of taking measures against harassment, including moral harassment, but many companies have fallen behind in their efforts to deal with the problem. Let's take this opportunity to take countermeasures and protect a safe and secure working environment for employees.
Please use the harassment training contents of "learningBOX ON" when conducting in-house training on harassment. LearningBOX ON" is a service that makes it easy to add company-required training content to learningBOX, an e-learning creation and management system. You can easily design your own original learning courses by combining them with your company's in-house content.
Harassment training and compliance training content are available free of charge, so please take advantage of this service for your in-house training.
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