Workplace Bullying
Bullying at work remains a huge problem for employees and employers and knowing what to do if you are a victim is vital.
There are cases of physical, verbal aggression and open acts of discrimination in which bullying is clear and obvious.
In other cases it may be covert and much more subtle. Being deliberately ignored, not copied in on important emails, expectations continually changing or being set unattainable targets can all amount to bullying.
A survey by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which was carried out earlier this year, revealed that workplace ‘banter’ was the biggest problem, affecting a third (32 per cent) of workers.
The research revealed the sectors most affected by bullying were accounting and finance, hospitality and retail.
The impact of workplace bullying can be extremely harmful.
For the victim, it can cause stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, digestive problems, high blood pressure, other physical and mental health issues and also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.
In addition it can affect the performance, productivity and reputation of an employer.
If you feel or believe you are being bullied at work do not ignore it in the hope it may simply stop.
Your perception of any unfavourable or unwarranted treatment you have suffered will be vital in establishing if you have been treated in a manner that meets the definition of bullying.
ACAS state that although there is no legal definition of bullying, it can be described as unwanted behaviour from a person or group that is either:
Offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting.
An abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone.
Bullying might:
Be a regular pattern of behaviour or a one-off incident.
Happen face-to-face, on social media, in emails or calls.
Happen at work or in other work-related situations.
Not always be obvious or noticed by others.
Bullying at work can be a difficult and distressing experience.
You may question and doubt yourself that it is happening to you, or even fear you could be overreacting and not believed.
But some key signs that you might be bullied at work are:
Feeling anxious, stressed, depressed or isolated because of someone’s behaviour towards you.
Being constantly criticised, undermined, humiliated or ignored by someone in a way that is unfair or unreasonable.
You are given unrealistic or impossible tasks, deadlines or workload.
Feeling isolated and excluded from events or opportunities relevant to your work or career.
You are subjected to offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting comments or actions by someone, either in person or online.
If you think you are being bullied at work finding the strength and courage to do something about it can be incredibly difficult, especially without the right support.
If you are being bullied, you should:
Seek expert support from your trade union representative. If you are not a union member you can join, or alternatively seek support from someone you trust, such as a colleague, a friend, a family member or a counsellor.
Report it to your manager or human resources (HR) department. Follow any of your employer’s policy and procedures for dealing with bullying and harassment. Keep a record of the incidents and the steps you have taken to resolve them.
If possible, and only if possible, try to talk to the person who is bullying you and explain how their behaviour affects you. Ask them to stop and keep a record of the conversation. Often making the perpetrator aware of the impact of their behaviour can be effective. In some cases, they might not be aware how their behaviour is affecting you. Talking to them may cause them to reflect on how they have treated you.
If you are the target of bullying it is not your fault, and you deserve respect and dignity at work.
If you need support to deal with bullying at work and you are a union member, or wish to become a new member, you can contact helpdesk@employeesunitedunion.co.uk or call 08448 444 982 to access help in accordance with the terms of your membership.