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In this section...

  1. What is Bullying?
  2. Children and Bullying
  3. What to do if your child is being bullied
  4. Why do children bully?
  5. What can you do if your child is a bully?
  6. Further Help and Advice
  7. Workplace Bullying
  8. What Action Can Be Taken?

Bullying

What Action Can Be Taken?

Employers are responsible for the prevention of bullying and harassment; they have a duty of care to all employees. Check to see if there is a policy on the standards of behaviour expected of staff.It should explain the damaging effects of harassment and bullying and why they will not be tolerated.

Before formal proceedings it is worth considering an informal approach. Talk with a line manager or supervisor, or a union representative. Also to other colleagues - maybe they are experiencing the same treatment.

Remember to:

  • Check the job description and contract of employment. Do the responsibilities match?
  • Keep a record of all incidents; this will be important should further action be taken. Record dates and times of when incidents happen and keep copies of any relevant paperwork.
  • Try to get witnesses to incidents. Ask colleagues if they will give their support.
  • Try to keep calm, be firm but not aggressive. Do not become involved in an argument, remain objective.
  • If a decision is made to make a formal complaint, follow the employer’s grievance procedure.
  • Ask a union representative, personnel officer or other adviser for help to state the grievance clearly.

If despite all the above, nothing is done to prevent the mistreatment, then advice should be taken on legal rights.Many of the cases taken to tribunal end up there, not because of the severity of the original incident, but because of a subsequent failure by mamagers to deal with the issues effectively.

Resignation may be the last resort but firstly all other ways should be tried to resolve the situation.

Advice and guidance can be obtained from Acas (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), trade unions, legal advisers and Citizens Advice Bureaux. Sites giving help can also be found on the internet, details of which are given below.

There are laws against discrimination and harassment under which employees might be able to bring a complaint. For example:

  • The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
  • The Race Relations Act 1976
  • The Protection from Harassment Act 1997
  • The Disability Discrimination Act 2005
  • The Employment Equality Regulations (Sexual Discrimination) 2005 & (Religion and Belief) 2003.

Further help and advice:

Workplace Bullying

The Andrea Adams Trust

Trade Union Congress

Hear4u 24 Hour Confidential Helpline for Company members only.

If you would like to talk, in confidence, to one of our counsellors please phone 0800 316 0201.