Bullying in the workplace

We spend most of our time at work. Therefore, we all deserve to feel comfortable and at ease. The environment should be supportive, without pressure or intimidation.

Steps for dealing with bullying in the workplace

1. Know your company’s policy. Find out as much detail as you can, including the processes for reporting to supervisors.
2. If you feel confident enough, the best thing to do is talk to your bully first. In some cases, they may not know how their behavior is affecting you.
3. Report to management or HR. In many cases, it is not possible to confront the bully head-on. Instead, you need to inform the relevant people of what is happening.
4. Save any evidence. A record of the dates, times, place, details, and names of witnesses to any harassment could prove invaluable if someone asks you to back up your claims.
5. File an official report. If you feel that your problem has not been taken seriously by those you reported at work and the bullying has not stopped, you can seek to file an official complaint.

What to do if a manager or boss harasses you

Unfortunately, it is common for harassment to come from your superiors. Just because they are your boss doesn’t mean you can get away with it. Any good company’s policy will include a designated colleague with whom you can discuss your concerns without fear of punishment. You can discuss whether the behavior was acceptable or not and make decisions about where to go next. Additionally, confidentiality is a key part of the complaint process. It should always be treated fairly.

How about legal action?

Taking legal action shouldn’t be your first option. But if you think that despite all your attempts, you haven’t made any progress in stopping the bullying, it’s time to get advice on your legal rights.

It is important to have first tried to resolve the problem with your company. When you file a claim in employment court, that is one of the first things they will ask you. If you can show them a record of the abuse, your efforts to resolve the problem, and your company’s inaction, then you could file a claim. Note that:

• You must have worked for your employer for 24 months.
• It should be considered harassment under the Equality Act 2010.

According to the Equality Law, something can be counted as harassment when:

• It threatens your dignity.
• It creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.