Mobbing and discrimination are problems that affect society on many levels, both in the workplace and in everyday life. The fight against these phenomena does not rest only on the shoulders of individuals or employers. Society as a whole, supported by NGOs and their initiatives, is taking active steps to raise awareness and counter mobbing and discrimination. In this article, we will take a look at these activities and see if and what steps society is taking to combat these negative phenomena.
NGOs the voice of the disadvantaged
NGOs play a key role in the fight against mobbing and discrimination. They work on many levels, supporting those affected by mobbing or discrimination, educating the public and lobbying for legislative changes. An example of such an organization is the National Anti-Harassment Association (poln. Krajowe Stowarzyszenie Antymobbingowe), which works for equality and against discrimination and harassment on many fronts, including providing direct assistance to those being harassed.
State Labor Inspectorate (poln. Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy)
Its activities and initiatives are focused on ensuring compliance with labor laws and promoting equality and respect in the workplace. The activities and initiatives focus on, among other things:
- workplace checks and inspections;
- ongoing advice and support – providing employees and employers with information and advice on labor rights and countering mobbing and discrimination;
- monitoring and reporting – collecting data on incidents of mobbing and discrimination and publishing reports on them;
- promoting good practices – organizing public campaigns, promoting effective anti- mobbing programs and organizations involved in these issues.
What about employers?
More and more companies understand that the fight against mobbing and discrimination not only has moral benefits, but also economic ones. Therefore, more and more organizations are taking initiatives in their workplaces. They are creating anti- mobbing policies, organizing anti-discrimination training and creating an atmosphere that promotes respect and equality among employees.
Cross-sector cooperation
The fight against mobbing and discrimination requires cooperation between different sectors. Cross-sector initiatives play an important role in the fight against mobbing and discrimination, as they bring together representatives of different sectors of society, including employers, employees, NGOs and the government, to work together to create a fairer and more equal society. As an example of an initiative of this kind, one can mention the activities of the poln. Konfederacja Lewiatan, which brings together employers and is actively involved in the fight against mobbing and discrimination.
Individual actions
We must not forget that the fight against mobbing and discrimination begins with individual action. Each of us can be part of the solution, not the problem. This means that we must be alert to situations of mobbing and discrimination in our environment, and act in response to them. We can be allies of the aggrieved, report incidents to superiors or authorities, and consistently oppose discriminatory behavior. Promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace through organizations like Divercity+ seems to be crucial in the fight against mobbing and discrimination. This is the only way to achieve greater impact and effectiveness in creating a work environment that is free from injustice and exclusion. This, in turn, contributes to building a fairer society in which everyone has the chance to develop their professional potential without fear of mobbing or discrimination.
What else can we do?
We can spread knowledge on these topics by raising awareness among employers, managers and indirectly employees. One such activity is the third edition of the conference organized by our law firm VON ZANTHIER & DACHOWSKI under the title “Mobbing, discrimination and work-life balance – 3 challenges for organizations in practice”, which will be held on Thursday, November 23, 2023 in an online format, from 10:00 am to 2:45 pm.
Together with the speakers we will look at mobbing and discrimination from different perspectives – legal and judicial, psychological, we will also analyze them from the point of view of employers. A detailed program of the event and organizational information are available on the dedicated conference website.
Let’s remember that the fight against mobbing and discrimination is a task that requires the involvement of the entire society. NGO actions, social campaigns, workplace initiatives and individual actions are key to changing the culture and creating a fairer and more equal society. Each of us can be part of this change, and together we can achieve great results.
Author:
Paula Staszak-Urbańska, LL.M., Trainee attorney-at-law (PL)
