Ever present problem: Studies across various industries in 2013 and 2019 both found that at least a quarter of respondents admitted to being victims of workplace bullying. Photo for illustrative purposes. — SIA HONG KIAU/The Star
PETALING JAYA: About 15,000 ‘Occupational Mental Health First Aiders’ are being trained nationwide as Malaysia outlined rigorous measures to improve mental health management and ensure employees are not subject to a toxic environment at work.
“Our goal is to have at least one Occupational Mental Health First Aider in every office, to foster a better mental health environment in workplaces,” Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said.
He added that while the Flexible Work Arrangement was incorporated into the Employment Act last year, which could improve working conditions, many employers and workers remain uncertain about how to implement it effectively.
“Although the provision has been in force since last year, we’ve noticed that many of them are unclear about how to move forward.
“To address this, we are developing a comprehensive guideline. Agencies such as the Labour Department, Talent Corp, and MyFutureJobs will actively promote its implementation,” he told Sunday Star.
Sim said he had instructed that the 2022 amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act on June 1 be enforced after a two-year delay.
“A key aspect of this amendment is extending occupational safety and health regulations to all economic sectors, not just the 10 sectors previously covered. Ensuring a safe and healthy workplace will help reduce stress and improve workers’ mental health,” he added.
Sim was responding to questions about workplace bullying, which had been rising in Malaysia.
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Workplace bullying gained renewed attention following the apparent suicide of a specialist doctor from Lahad Datu Hospital in August.
Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, emphasised that workers have avenues to report workplace bullying.
“Every workplace has clear rules and guidelines. The human resource (HR) department has employee relations officers whose role is to guide and support staff.
“Any employee facing bullying can file a complaint with this department,” he said.
Companies often have industrial relations departments to educate employees on workplace laws, as well as suggestion or complaint boxes managed by the HR or CEO’s office, he added.
Syed Hussain maintained that companies do not tolerate bullying or sexual harassment.
“If found guilty of such misconduct, your employment will be terminated. Employees can also file legal suits against perpetrators,” he said.
Despite numerous surveys on the subject, there is still no specific data or index that captures the full extent of workplace bullying in Malaysia, said the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh), an agency under the Human Resources Ministry.
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Niosh acknowledged that workplace bullying is a well-recognised problem with significant impacts on employees’ mental health.
“We are working to better understand the extent of this issue through future studies and collaborative efforts,” the agency said.
Complaints about workplace bullying cut across industries. Studies conducted in 2013 and 2019 both found that at least a quarter of respondents admitted to being victims of workplace bullying.
For example, the Global Business and Management Research journal highlighted a 2019 survey which found that 39% of 5,235 respondents from 47 companies in Malaysia had experienced bullying in the workplace.
A 2013 study, conducted by three researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, including Malaysian researcher Dr Yuzana Mohd Yusop, found that 42.6% of workers in the healthcare industry reported facing “injustice in their organisations.”
Last year, the Malaysian Bar adopted a resolution during its annual general meeting, calling for workplace bullying to be classified as misconduct under Section 94(3) of the Legal Profession Act.
“Workplace bullying is a serious issue in the legal profession, as evidenced by the numerous complaints from lawyers, pupils in chambers, and legal staff in Malaysia,” said the Malaysian Bar.
