Introduction
Hello, everyone! Today, we’re diving into a crucial topic that affects many of us: mental harassment at work, particularly in the UAE. It’s a big problem that could affect our health and work for a long time. Let’s find out what it’s about and what we can do about it.
Overview of Mental Harassment at Work in UAE
So, what does mental abuse at work mean? It’s when someone at work, like your boss, a coworker, or even a manager, mistreats you in a way that makes you feel stressed, angry, or just plain wrong. Also, guess what? It’s not cool at all! We are lucky that there are rules in the UAE that protect us from this kind of behaviour.
Mental harassment can come in many forms, such as hurtful words, physical attacks, or attempts to control your thoughts and feelings. Isn’t it about how their acts hurt your mental health and well-being, not just how mean they are to you?
Importance of Addressing Mental Harassment in the Workplace
Why is it so essential to deal with mental abuse straight on? Not only does no one deserve to feel bad at work, but it can also be awful for our mental health. Stress or worry can make it hard to concentrate on our work and even impact our relationships outside of work.
Research shows that persecuting workers at work can make them feel more stressed, anxious, and depressed. It can also make people less motivated, less productive, and more likely to leave their jobs.
New Labor Law Prohibits Mental Harassment
Good news! New labor laws went into action in the UAE in February 2022. These laws are very strong when it comes to stopping mental harassment. This law says that companies must ensure that their workplaces are safe and respectful for everyone. If they don’t, they can be fined a lot of money.
Key Provisions of the New Labor Law
Let’s examine this new law. It basically states that violence in words, actions, or thoughts toward workers is not okay and should not occur at all. That means you guys should stop being mean or rude to your coworkers!
Employers are required by law to provide their workers with a safe, polite, and harassment-free workplace. This means establishing rules and guidelines to prevent and address harassment and teaching and training workers about their rights and duties.
Legal Implications for Employers and Employees
What will happen if someone breaks the rules and bothers others at work? At the very least, employers can be fined anywhere from AED 5,000 to a huge AED 1,000,000, based on how bad the offence is. Oh no! Who works there? They could also get in trouble, so being a jerk at work is not worth it.
Employees who have been harassed may sue or fine their bosses, and their reputations may also be hurt. This can lead to expensive cases, low morale at work, and the loss of talented people.
Types of Mental Harassment in the Workplace
There are many kinds of mental harassment, but some of the most common ones are physical violence, emotional abuse, and trying to change your mind. To put it simply, abuse is when someone tries to make you feel bad on purpose.
Some examples of verbal abuse are yelling, calling someone names, or saying hurtful things about them. Any direct contact or fear is considered physical violence. On the other hand, gaslighting, undermining, or spreading rumours about someone is regarded as psychological manipulation.
Examples of Mental Harassment
For a moment. In the workplace, what does mental abuse look like? It could be anything from criticizing your work to avoiding you or making you feel like you’re not important. Not excellent, am I right?
Let’s say you work with someone who constantly puts down your ideas in meetings or claims credit for your work. That isn’t just annoying; it’s rude and should be stopped.
Legal Consequences of Mental Harassment
What will happen if someone crosses the line and stastartsothering their coworkers? As we already said, there could be some terrible results. Businesses can be fined often, and workers may have to pay fines.
Fines for Employers
Hey, bosses, pay attention! You could get fined a lot if you don’t do what you must to keep the workplace safe and polite. And trust us, you don’t want to mess with the police about this.
Employers can be fined between AED 5,000 and AED 1,000,000 if they don’t stop or deal with harassment at work, according to the new labour law. The fine varies depending on the type and level of harassment and the employer’s record of breaking the law.
Penalties for Employees
Hey workers, we have news for you too. People can be seriously hurt if they find out you are bothering your coworkers. Let’s all agree to be friendly and respectful to each other, okay?
Employees abusing others can be punished, which could even mean losing their jobs. Depending on how bad the harassment was and the employer’s rules, they may also face legal action and fines.
Legal Recourse for Victims
There are many other people who have been harassed at work, so don’t feel bad. You can keep yourself safe and get the help you need.
Reporting and Investigation of Mental Harassment
What should you do if someone at work is bothering you? The first thing you should do is tell someone in charge, like your boss or HR. They should pay attention to your issue and look into it thoroughly.
Internal Reporting Channels
Most businesses have ways for employees to report cases like this. That means you don’t have to worry about getting in trouble if you tell someone in HR or management what’s happening.
Escalation to Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE)
You don’t have to worry if your internal reporting doesn’t get anything done. There are other choices. You can take your protest to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE), which can look into it further and, if necessary, punish the person responsible.
Investigation Procedures
When you report abuse at work, it’s important to take the right steps. That means getting proof, talking to witnesses, and doing what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.
Prevention and Resolution Strategies
As you might expect, the best way to handle abuse at work is to stop it from happening in the first place. Both employers and workers can help make the workplace safe and respectful. If an employee sees something wrong, they should speak up.
Employer Responsibilities
Hey, bosses, pay attention! Of course, it’s your job to ensure everyone feels safe and respected at work. That means you need to take abuse seriously and do something to stop it.
Employee Rights
People who work for you also have rights! You can report harassment at work and get the help you need. Talk to someone you trust about what’s going on instead of suffering alone.
Workers should be able to go to work without being harassed, discriminated against, or threatened with harm. This includes the right to report harassment without worrying about getting in trouble and to have those reports taken carefully and looked into immediately.
Best Practices for Creating a Respectful Work Environment
So, how can we all work together to make the office a safe and welcoming place for everyone? Well, it starts with being kind and understanding to each other. Let’s promise to treat each other well, shall we?
Building an atmosphere of acceptance, diversity, and mutual respect is one-way employers can encourage a respectful work environment. This could mean encouraging open conversation, providing training on diversity and inclusion, and recognizing and celebrating the differences between employees.
Employees who treat their coworkers with respect, speak out against harassment and discrimination and help those who may be being mistreated can also create a positive work atmosphere.
Conclusion
That’s all there is to it, folks! We’ve looked into the serious problem of mental abuse at work in the UAE and the steps that are being taken to stop it. Always remember that making the workplace safe and polite is everyone’s job, and we can all do our part to make it an excellent place.
We can work toward making workplaces where everyone feels valuable and respected by learning about the different kinds of harassment, knowing our rights, and acting when necessary. Let’s try to be kind, understanding, and polite to each other.
If you need more help or advice on how to deal with workplace harassment, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Ittihad Legal Consultants. We’re here to help you and ensure your rights are respected. If we all work together, we can make a workplace where everyone feels valued, treated fairly, and respected.
Thank you for coming along with us. Until next time, be careful and stay safe.
