Taming the Raging Bully! A Case Study Critically Exploring Anti-bullying Measures to Support Neurodiverse Employees

Abstract

Disclosure of neurodiversity in the workplace can attract unfavourable attention. The aim of this case study is to critically investigate the collective potential of specialized and generic mental health promotion guides to help prevent or treat the bullying of neurodiverse employees. Applying qualitative thematic analysis to eight of these guides originating from Australia, Canada and England, this research offers three key messages that should be of interest to policymakers and practitioners working in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere. First, guides as reviewed by this study collectively support anti-bullying themes across dimensions of policy/procedures, education, legal, leadership and monitoring/support. Second, evidence sourced from scholarly and grey literature raise challenges that if overlooked might reduce the effectiveness of guide endorsed anti-bullying measures. Finally, this study raises the prospect that anti-bullying measures to assist mentally diverse staff might be more effective when potential synergies between these are recognized and encouraged.