What is bullying at work?
There is no legal definition of bullying, but the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) says it can be described as unwanted behaviour from a person or group that is either:
- offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting; or
- an abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone.
Both Acas and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) give examples of bullying at work, which can include:
- constantly criticising your work;
- insulting you or your work;
- spreading malicious rumours or gossip about you;
- isolating you or excluding you from people or social events;
- unfair, overly critical or inappropriate feedback or comments;
- putting you down in meetings;
- giving you impossible jobs that cannot be done;
- deliberately giving you a heavier workload than everyone else;
- changing your work rota to make it difficult for you.
While bullying often comes from managers, it can also be “upwards”, where a manager is undermined by a member of staff who, for example, constantly undermines their authority or spreads gossip about them.
If the form of the bullying is related to the “protected characteristic” of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation then it will amount to “harassment” and be unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.
You don't have to put up with being bullied. Talking to someone you trust is a good first step. This could be a union rep, a line manager (unless they are the bully) or someone in HR. You can also call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100.
A useful practical step you can take is to start keeping a journal noting the incidents as they happen, setting out your best recollections of what happened, what was said when, who was there and so on. If bullying is by email or social media, print it off or take a screenshot.