Bullying

Workplace bullying can be defined as offensive, intimidating, malicious, insulting or humiliating behaviour, abuse of power or authority which attempts to undermine an individual or group of employees and which may cause them to suffer stress.

The 2010 TUC safety representatives survey found that one in three (33 per cent) safety representatives identified bullying as a problem in their workplace that was linked to stress. And workplace bullying is widespread, according to findings from a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in association with MORI and Kingston Business School. The survey identified that one fifth of all UK employees have experienced some form of bullying or harassment over the last two years. The survey also reported that the groups most likely to become victims of bullying and harassment are black and Asian employees, women and people with a disability. Nearly one third (29 per cent) of Asian employees or those from other ethnic groups report having experienced some form of bullying or harassment, compared with 18 per cent of white employees. Employees with disabilities are at least twice as likely to report having experienced one or more forms of bullying and harassment (37 per cent), compared with non-disabled employees (18 per cent).

Links

TUC: Bullying at Work - Guidance for Safety Representatives 

TUC Bullied at work? Don't suffer in silence

Hazards bullying factsheet