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Workplace bullyingfree online awareness course for New Zealand workers

What counts as workplace bullying in New Zealand and what does not, your options if you experience or see it, what team leaders should do, and where help is.

  • About 38 min
  • 5 short modules
  • 14 questions
  • 80% to pass
A person sitting at a table with their hands clasped beside a glass of water, ready to talk.

About this course

The comment in front of the team. The roster that keeps changing only for you. The message you keep rereading. It can be hard to tell whether this is bullying, and harder to know what to do about it. This course explains what WorkSafe and Employment New Zealand mean by bullying, what they say is not bullying, and the options people have.

If this is happening to you, you do not have to do anything you are not ready for. These are options, and you choose what feels safe. The one thing to keep in mind is a time limit, explained in the second module. Support lines are in the last module.

You can study and sit the assessment free, with no account. Employment New Zealand has a free module on resolving employment disputes, and WorkSafe publishes free guides on bullying. They are linked on this page, and you may prefer them. Pay only if you pass and want our certificate.

What you will learn

  • Recognise what WorkSafe and Employment New Zealand describe as bullying, and what they say is not bullying
  • Tell bullying apart from sexual harassment, racial harassment and discrimination, and name where each can go
  • Keep useful notes and choose a way of raising a concern that feels safe
  • Respond when you see bullying, and when you are accused of it
  • Describe what businesses and team leaders are expected to do when told about bullying
  • Find the right support or agency, and explain what WorkSafe will and will not do

Who this course is for

  • Workers in any role who want to understand what bullying is and what they can do about it
  • Team leaders and supervisors, who may be the first person told
  • Caregivers, hospitality workers, cleaners and office workers who deal with colleagues, customers and clients every day

How the course works

  1. 1. What bullying is, and what it is notHow WorkSafe and Employment New Zealand describe bullying, how it can look, what they say is not bullying, and how harassment and discrimination differ.About 7 min, ending with a quick check
  2. 2. If it is happening to youGetting a second view, keeping notes, ways of raising it, what should happen next, and the time limit to keep in mind.About 8 min, ending with a quick check
  3. 3. If you see it, or are accused of itWhat you can do when you see bullying and it is safe to help, and what to expect if a complaint is made about you.About 5 min, ending with a quick check
  4. 4. What employers and team leaders are expected to doThe duties WorkSafe and Employment New Zealand describe, what to do when someone tells you, and a law change coming in 2027.About 7 min, ending with a quick check
  5. 5. Where help isWhat WorkSafe will and will not do, who to contact for what, and support lines you can use at any stage.About 5 min, ending with a quick check
  6. Sit the assessment14 questions drawn at random. You need 80% to pass, and there is no time limit. If you do not pass, you will see which topics to review, then try again with a new set of questions.Free, and so are retries
  7. If you pass, the certificate is your choiceYou pay once, then get the PDF straight away and a copy by email. Your place is saved on this device the whole way, with no sign-up.NZ$24.90, optional
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Sample. Yours shows your name, the course, the date and an ID anyone can check.

What this certificate does and does not show

  • This is general awareness. It is not legal advice or counselling, and it cannot tell you whether what is happening to you meets a legal test. For your own situation, talk to a lawyer, a community law centre, your union or Employment New Zealand.
  • It does not prepare you to run an investigation, and it does not show that a workplace has met its duties. Sexual harassment and discrimination are covered only far enough to tell them apart from bullying.
  • Health and safety law changes on 1 April 2027, and WorkSafe has promised new guidance. Check its website for anything newer than the date on this course.

If you go straight to the assessment without completing the modules, your certificate is titled Certificate of Knowledge Assessment, because that is what it records.

Anyone can check a certificate on our verification page using its ID or QR code. More about the certificate.

Questions about this course

How do I know if what is happening to me counts as bullying?

You may not be sure, and that is all right. WorkSafe and Employment New Zealand describe it as repeated and unreasonable behaviour that can cause harm. You do not need to be certain before talking to someone. A person you trust, your union, or Employment New Zealand on 0800 20 90 20 can help you think it through.

Will my employer find out if I contact one of these services?

It depends on the service. WorkSafe's form lets you ask it not to share your name, although it may still contact the business. The Human Rights Commission says it will not contact anyone about your complaint without your permission. Ask each service how it works before you give details.

Does WorkSafe still deal with bullying?

Yes, in a limited way. Its pages say it responds to the most urgent or serious concerns, and is unlikely to step in on one-off cases. Its investigations will not require anyone to be disciplined, and will not award compensation. Many of its bullying pages date from 2017 to 2020. Health and safety law changes on 1 April 2027 and WorkSafe has promised new guidance, so check its website.

How is this different from the free guides and modules?

WorkSafe's guides and Employment New Zealand's module are free and are linked on this page, so they are a good choice on their own. We are independent of both. This course brings the topic together with scenarios and an assessment, and offers an optional paid certificate that anyone can check on our verification page.

Is this legal advice or counselling?

No. It is general information to help you recognise what is happening and find the next step. For your own situation, talk to a lawyer, a community law centre or your union. For support, 1737 is free and open at any time.

My employer wants me to do bullying training. Should I pay for this certificate?

Ask them first. Section 27 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 says a business must not charge a worker for anything done or provided in relation to health and safety. If your employer requires workplace health and safety training, ask whether they provide or fund it before purchasing this optional certificate. Each employer decides what training it accepts, and this awareness course does not replace workplace-specific training or induction. You can study and sit the assessment free before deciding whether to buy anything.

Official sources behind this course

The lessons are original summaries of these sources. For your own situation, the source is what counts.

Show all 37 sources

Version 1.0.1, last checked 2026-11-03. Approved for publication by our editor on 2026-11-09. Not reviewed by an external professional. How we check our content.

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Free to study.
Certificate NZ$24.90 if you pass.