A research-based self-assessment tool to help you understand and enhance your role as an active bystander at work.
Active bystanders play a critical role in shaping workplace culture. When people notice harmful behaviour and take positive steps to address it, teams build greater trust and psychological safety, reduce harm before it escalates, and create environments where everyone feels safe to contribute, speak up and thrive.
A bystander is a person who witnesses or is made aware of harmful behaviour without being directly involved in it. During this survey you’ll be asked how you would presently handle the knowledge of harmful behaviours, so it’s helpful to be reminded here of the full range of behaviours that can negatively impact individual or team safety and/or wellbeing. Examples include:
This anonymous 15-minute survey is designed to help evaluate and develop your active bystander skills in relation to five key competencies grounded in bystander intervention research. You will gain insights into your current capabilities across these five areas and identify pathways for more confident, impactful bystander action, both during and after incidents. You’ll learn more about your strengths and growth opportunities, and receive some practical tips and reflective questions, in your instant feedback report.
This survey explores topics that relate to uncomfortable, stressful or challenging situations. While the overall content is designed to be supportive and constructive, some questions may prompt reflection on personal experiences.
If at any stage you are feeling distressed or triggered, please consider taking breaks during the survey (your responses will be stored in your current browser) and/or advise your program lead if you wish to discontinue. Consider seeking confidential support through your Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Please be aware that the purpose of this tool is to indicate strengths and areas for development – rather than to commend or reward people for achieving high scores – on the understanding that some of us may naturally experience difficulty picking up cues or perceiving others’ emotions. In considering the tips and feedback, we encourage you to focus on the areas that are within your capability to develop.
Bystander Index and its results are not intended to provide, and should not be interpreted as, medical or other professional advice. Rather, you should consider any results you receive at most as high-level pointers for your own further exploration if you so wish to explore. All insights and advice should be considered in conjunction with other sources of feedback and professional guidance.
Results are based on self-reported information and reflect your responses at the time of completion; scores may vary based on current circumstances or recent experiences.
Individual results should not be used for employment decisions, performance evaluations or professional credentialing.
Bystander Index is an anonymous and confidential assessment tool that does not require account (login) creation. Individual responses are stored in a deidentified format (we do not collect your name, email or IP address) and all responses are aggregated for the purposes of group and correlational analysis only.
For convenience of use, responses in progress are auto-saved using local storage on your current device/browser and are not shared nor collected. Starting a new attempt clears that in-progress data.
You may discontinue your assessment attempt at any time. Completed results are kept on this device under My results in the menu, where you can reopen, download or clear each one. Starting a new attempt does not remove them.
You may be invited to bring a copy of your results to a facilitated workshop for learning purposes. Participation is optional, and your facilitator will not see, collect or require disclosure of your individual results unless you choose to share them. If you print or save a copy, please keep it confidential and store it securely.
By proceeding, you acknowledge that you have read and understood:
To ensure the most constructive feedback it is important to answer the questions honestly and to consider your responses in relation to how you currently think, feel or behave, not how you would ideally be thinking, feeling or behaving.
Insert your own demographic questions to filter and compare your group results for added depth of insight. Some examples below.
Please rate to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements, responding to all statements before proceeding to the next page.
Download your detailed summary of results, or retake the assessment later – every completed result is saved under My results, so you can track your progress over time.
Your summary of results includes all detailed feedback, exploratory questions, practical tips and research insights.
