ENG1503/Assignment 01/S1/2024

Tutorial Letter 001/1/2024

Academic Language and Literacy in English

ENG1503

Semester 1

Department of English Studies

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This tutorial letter contains important
information about the ENG1503
Assignment 01 for Semester 1

BARCODE

HONESTY DECLARATION
 ENG1503/Assignment 01/S1/2024

HONESTY DECLARATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH STUDIES

Module Code: ……………………. Assessment Date: ………………. 2024

1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or
inventions of another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only includes
verbatim copying, but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas without proper
acknowledgement (which includes the proper use of quotation marks) or any attempt
to cheat the plagiarism checking system. I know that plagiarism covers the use of
material found in textual sources and from the Internet.

2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.

3. I understand that my assignment/exam answers must be accurately referenced.

4. This assignment/exam file/portfolio is my own work. I acknowledge that copying

someone else’s work, or part of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to
others constitutes a form of plagiarism.

5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as their own work.

6. I understand that I can be awarded 0% if I have plagiarized.

7. I understand that my assignment/exam file/portfolio may be submitted automatically

to Turnitin.

8. I confirm that I have read and understood the following UNISA policies:
8.1 Policy for Copyright and Plagiarism
8.2 Policy on Academic Integrity
8.3 Student Disciplinary Code

Name ………………………………… Student No: ............................

Signed …………………………………. Date …………………………….

 ENG1503/Assignment 01/S1/2024

Assignment: 01
Compulsory: Yes
Due date: 13 March 2024
Unique number: 285853

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to assess your critical reading skills. You are expected to
carefully read the article below and reflect on it in an academic manner by answering the assigned
questions in short paragraphs. Please note that when the assignment is being graded, students will be
penalized for using incorrect language. For example, sentences that are incomprehensible, have errors in
spelling, punctuation and structure are deemed incorrect and will attract penalties.

Instruction: Read the text below and answer the following questions in short paragraphs of not more
than 150 words each. Do not quote directly from the text unless you are instructed to do so.

New case deals with bullying in the workplace in South Africa

Staff Writer

1. Bullying is a word synonymous with the type of conduct expected in school playgrounds. It is
not a word that is usually associated with the workplace, notes Sibusiso Dube, partner at
Bowmans South Africa. However, bullying in the workplace is prevalent such that the new
Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace
(Code), which took effect on 18 March 2022, has placed a positive duty on employers to play
their part in preventing bullying in the workplace, Dube said.

2. In terms of the code, Bowmans sated that bullying involves the abuse of coercive power by
an individual or group of individuals in the workplace and may involve aggressive behaviour
in which someone repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort. Bullying includes a
wide range of insulting, demeaning or intimidating behaviour that lowers the self-esteem or
self-confidence of an employee and may be an escalating process in the course of
employment in which the complainant ends up in an inferior position and becomes the target
of systematic negative social acts. Verbal bullying may include threats, shaming, hostile
teasing, insults, constant negative judgment and criticism, or racist, sexist or LGBTQIA+
phobic language,” said Dube.

3. In South Africa, all forms of harassment related to one or more of the listed grounds set out
in section 6(1) of the Employment Equity Act, 1998 (EEA) or any other ‘arbitrary ground’, are
regarded as unfair discrimination. Harassment constitutes a barrier to equity and equality in
the workplace. As such, harassment, including bullying, must be eliminated from the
workplace and in any activity linked to, or arising out of work, the legal expert said. “The code
describes harassment, among others, as unwanted conduct which impairs dignity, and which
creates a hostile or intimidating work environment for one or more employees. A hostile work
environment will be present where conduct has a negative impact on the employee’s ability
to work and/or on their personal well-being. “Whether an employee has been a victim of
bullying will depend on the impact of the alleged bullying on the employee. The test is
subjective, however, there may be circumstances where employees believe they are being
bullied and this perception is not consistent with the views of a ‘reasonable person’ in the
situation of the complainant.”
 ENG1503/Assignment 01/S1/2024

4. The code highlights that employers are under an obligation in terms of section 60 of the EEA
to take proactive and remedial steps to prevent all forms of harassment in the workplace,
Dube said. “This includes conducting an assessment of the risk of harassment to employees;
creating and maintaining a working environment in which the dignity of employees is
respected; adopting and implementing an appropriate policy addressing harassment in the
workplace; conducting training to educate employees about the various forms of harassment;
implementing ongoing awareness initiatives and programmes; and investigating allegations
of harassment. “Employers who fail to take adequate steps to eliminate bullying within a
reasonable time of being notified about alleged acts of bullying by an employee may be found
liable in terms of section 60 of the EEA. Employees who are found guilty of harassment
including bullying, may, in certain circumstances, and depending on the severity of the
conduct that is complained of, be summarily dismissed.”

5. In the Labour Court case between Centre for Autism Research and Education CC v CCMA
and others, two employees had referred a constructive dismissal to the CCMA arising from,
among others, bullying that they allegedly suffered from their manager. The CCMA found that
they had been unfairly dismissed, noted Bowmans. On review, the court held, among others,
that what the evidence discloses is a workplace operated by a narcissistic personality whose
offensive and unwelcome conduct had the effect of creating a toxic working environment in
which discrimination, degradation and demeaning behaviour became the norm. The judge
had no hesitation in finding that the nature and extent of the workplace bullying suffered by
the employees was such that for the purposes of section 186(1)(e) of the LRA, their continued
employment was rendered intolerable, and the review application was dismissed with costs,
said Dube.

6. Employers can assist employees who are being bullied at work to report such conduct by
implementing the proactive steps outlined in the Code; ensuring that employees are aware
that there is a zero tolerance towards bullying and any other form of harassment in that
workplace; and assuring that employees who report allegations of any form of harassment
will not be victimized or subjected to any reprisals. “It should also be stressed that those
employees who make false allegations in bad faith may also be subjected to disciplinary
action.” Employers are encouraged to seek advice on how to implement the mandatory steps
set out in the code to avoid falling foul of the EEA, Bowmans said.

Source: https://businesstech.co.za/news/business-opinion/584954/new-case-deals-with-bullying-in-
the-workplace-in-south-africa/ Accessed [18 March 2023]

Questions

1.1 In paragraph 1, the author states that bullying is a word synonymous with the type of conduct expected
in school playgrounds. It is not a word that is usually associated with the workplace. In your own words,
discuss 2 plausible factors from the text that may contribute to the prevalence of workplace bullying.
Provide 2 of your own examples. (10 Marks)

1.2 In your own words, summarise three main points reflected in paragraph 2 and provide at least 1
relevant example from the text and 1 example of your own (10 Marks)
 ENG1503/Assignment 01/S1/2024

1.3 In paragraph 3, the author discusses arbitrary grounds outlined in section 6(1) of the Employment
Equity Act, 1998 (EEA). For your convenience, the section in question is summarised below:

Section 6(1) of the Employment Equity Act, 1998 (EEA) outlines the grounds for discrimination that are
prohibited in the workplace. The section lists a set of specific characteristics or attributes that are
protected under the Act, and it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee based
on any of these grounds. The grounds for discrimination include race, gender, pregnancy, marital status,
family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status,
conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language, and birth. The EEA aims to promote equality and
eliminate unfair discrimination in the workplace by requiring employers to implement affirmative action
measures to redress past discrimination and to promote diversity and inclusivity.

In your own words, discuss 3 subjective or unjustifiable ways in which employees could potentially misuse
the Employment Equity Act to their benefit. (10 marks)

1.4 Paraphrase the sentences below and identify 3 distinct ideas associated with the mitigation [reduction]
of workplace bullying.

Employers can assist employees who are being bullied at work to report such conduct by implementing
the proactive steps outlined in the Code; ensuring that employees are aware that there is a zero tolerance
towards bullying and any other form of harassment in that workplace; and assuring that employees who
report allegations of any form of harassment will not be victimized or subjected to any reprisals. “It should
also be stressed that those employees who make false allegations in bad faith may also be subjected to
disciplinary action”. (10 Marks)

1.5 Drawing from the context of bullying presented in paragraph 2, do you agree or disagree with the idea
that workplace bullying lowers the self-esteem of an employee? In your response, cite two examples from
the text.

(10 Marks)

Total: (50 marks)

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