Workplace Initiation

It seems that for as long as I can remember, there has been a standard in the workplace that all new employees are subjected to some form of initiation [into the workplace]. Now the purist will suggest that an effective induction is paramount to helping new employees assimilate into the organisation…but the initiation ceremony I am thinking about seems to centre on making the ‘New Guy’ complete some unusual task.

We’ve regaled in stories of the apprentice being sent the hardware store for a ‘left handed screwdriver’ or a pot of ‘stripped paint.’ And whilst this seems harmless enough and it provides some light entertainment for the rest of the team, there is potential for problems.

More seriously though we’ve know of some antics that include more physical acts, and sometimes the inductee can be hurt…yet it seems to be considered as a ‘rite of passage.’ But if the ‘new employee’ showed some form of weakness and/or retaliated against his/her peers it would be held against them and they could never live it down.

I’m not convinced anyone would enjoy being the butt of others' jokes and so having new colleagues laugh at them is quite intimidating… it can put undue stress onto new employees and of course is tantamount to Bullying!

In the past two years WorkCover has investigated 1165 complaints relating to Bullying…and during this same period approximately 2400 workers’ compensation claims related to Bullying have cost more than $60m. This of course has [additional] hidden costs in the workplace relating to decreased productivity, low employee morale, increased absenteeism and higher staff turnover.

When you consider the raft of laws enacted that relate to Bullying combined with the trends for people to be more litigious, the opportunity for people to seek damages is greater than ever, and regardless of whether the prank was physical or emotional, the individual has certainly been adversely affected, as even the most innocent of pranks may be the precursor to unsafe workplace behaviour.

Organisations must ensure they have effectively developed, communicated and implemented appropriate policies and procedures to not only ensure an effective induction program, but also to address any issues that may arise in the event inappropriate situations occur. Suffice to say they need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all its employees and that they can perform their duties properly.

This may all sound like the ‘fun police’ have stuck again and jokes and pranks are their targets… instead though it's important to recognize that not only can these initiations be dangerous, they can have long term adverse affects on the poor soul subjected to them! Notwithstanding, please ensure there is an effective induction program available for all new starters, so they can feel a part of the team, rather then the laughing stock…