It’s Anti-Bullying Week in the UK, from 16 to 20 November, but bullying goes beyond school and can happen in the workplace. Bullying in the workplace is still a significant issue for many businesses and organisations, despite increasing awareness of its existence. There are various legal aspects to workplace bullying and harassment, which is why having the right HR advice and support can be critical in addressing and resolving these issues. What is Workplace Bullying? TUC research suggests that nearly a third of people are bullied at work. A UNISON survey has 60% of its respondents reporting that they had either experienced or witnessed bullying in the workplace. But what is workplace bullying? Under the Equality Act the definition of bullying and harassment is behaviour that makes someone feel intimidated or offended. Bullying, whilst highly questionable and immoral behaviour that any fair employer would not condone, is not illegal. Harassment, however, is against the law. Behaviour that amounts to bullying can include: Unfair treatment Picking on someone Denying them opportunities for training or promotion Spreading malicious rumours Bullying can become harassment if this behaviour relates to certain aspects of someone’s life, such as their age, race, sexuality, partnership status or […]
