11 min read
Anti-social behaviour in the workplace
Last updated August 2023
This chapter explains the health and safety risks associated with exposure to anti-social behaviour, and how to manage the risks to comply with health and safety legislation.
What is anti-social behaviour?
Definition: Anti-Social Behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is conduct by a person that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons.
Anti-social behaviour is conduct by a person that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons.
The term anti-social behaviour is broad and captures varying degrees of negative behaviour that is aggressive, intimidating and destructive, which negatively affects the quality of life of others.
Anti-social behaviour can be categorised into the following types of behaviour:
- negative acts directed at others;
- intentional environmental damage;
- misuse of public or private space; and
- disregard for personal and community safety and wellbeing.
Common examples of anti-social behaviour include:
- vandalism;
- loitering;
- harassment;
- violence;
- indecent exposure;
- unlawful assembly or out-of-control gathering;
- racism;
- offensive behaviour;
- neighbouring disputes;
- obstructing others;
- reckless driving;
- intentional property damage; and
- drug use or drunken behaviour.
Caution: A particularly dangerous way that anti-social behaviour may be carried out is through the use of vehicles, e.g. tailgating, speeding or driving in a threatening manner. This behaviour may also breach road rules. Workers who drive for work purposes may be exposed to this kind of anti-social behaviour, or they may be exhibiting it themselves.