I was a high-performing employee with a strong service record for many years, but unfortunately my experience was overshadowed by years of workplace bullying and harassment.
This included verbal abuse, racial abuse, being sworn at and shouted at, including being called derogatory names without provocation. There were also incidents of physical intimidation, including being stood over, spat at, and deliberately farted on by coworkers. It got so bad that no one wanted to be associated with me for fear of being seen as my friend, so I spent much of my time being left out, but on the off chance no one was around someone might talk to me without fear others will see that person talking to me.
What was most disappointing was the lack of action taken when concerns were raised. Despite escalating issues to supervisors, management, and HR, the behaviour continued for an extended period due to their inaction. Many employees were reluctant to speak up or act as witnesses due to fear of repercussions.
After reaching breaking point and formally raising concerns much higher up in the organisation, I felt increasingly targeted and was suddenly subjected to multiple investigations arising from complaints that I believed were unfounded after years of having a clean record. The ongoing environment ultimately became unbearable, and I decided to leave.
I hope the company has since improved its workplace culture and takes employee wellbeing, bullying, and harassment complaints more seriously than it did during my time there. However, based on what I have observed since leaving, I remain sceptical that meaningful change has occurred. Some of the main individuals whose behaviour orchestrated the toxic culture appeared to progress higher within the organisation rather than be held accountable.
BHP frequently promotes a message of “zero tolerance” towards bullying and harassment. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect that commitment. There was a significant gap between the company’s stated values and what I personally witnessed and experienced during my time there. this includes their generic response to glassdoor reviews.
