Addressing workplace culture and abuse

A workplace culture of inclusion and respect is central to individual and organizational performance and well-being in the public sector. In this chapter, we integrate psychology, management, and public administration research to present an introduction to workplace abuse, what it is, and the many forms it takes at work. Then, we discuss why it is critical for public sector organizations to prevent and manage workplace abuse, including considerations around individual, organizational, and social impacts, legislative requirements, the fact that public sector organizations ought to be model institutions and, of course, that it is just the right thing to do. We also turn our attention to the enabling, motivating, and precipitating institutional factors within the public sector that increase the risk of workplace abuse. Finally, we present an overview of a whole-of-organization approach to creating a culture of inclusion and respect to prevent and manage workplace abuse.