Bullying is a problem across ages and environments and is more common than you think. This guide explores what steps both employees and employers can take to overcome and stamp out a bullying culture in the workplace.
We spend most of our time at work. From a young age, you're told to find something you enjoy to pursue as an occupation. While not every individual will love their job, everyone deserves to feel comfortable and at ease in the workplace. Your working environment should be a supportive one, where everyone can work towards their goals without undue pressure or attention.
There's a perception that bullying is something that only happens at school – as if you'll leave education and never encounter a bully again. Unfortunately, some people never grow up. Bullying is a problem across ages and environments – by no means is it restricted to school. In fact, bullying in the workplace is more commonplace than you'd think.
Whether it's a critical boss singling out one employee to blame and punish, or a workforce playing repeated pranks on a colleague and choosing to ignore their contributions to a project, workplace bullying is on the rise. In just one year, conciliation service Acas had around 200,000 calls about bullying and harassment at work, with many people afraid to speak up about being treated badly by co-workers and managers.
But everyone deserves to be heard. In this guide, we'll explore what steps both employees and employers can take to overcome and stamp out a bullying culture.
How common is bullying in the workplace?
Almost six in 10 people have witnessed or suffered bullying in the workplace
37% have been bullied themselves
Out of 2,000 people, most people had witnessed bullying but only 48% did anything about it
68% said the behaviour was 'subtle', such as leaving colleagues out
One in 20 said they had witnessed physical violence between workmates
Shouting, shoving, intimidation and threatening behaviour were all reported
Source: Slater and Gordon
1a. What makes a workplace an enjoyable environment?
There's much more to workplace satisfaction than a good salary. Waking up in the morning and heading into the office in an upbeat mood is beneficial for individuals and businesses, improving productivity levels and general well-being. But what makes a working environment enjoyable? The following factors can be influential in whether people like coming to work or not:
A reasonable attitude to working hours. Most people understand overtime will be a necessity from time to time. But if a company applies so much pressure on their employees that individuals feel they must regularly put in long hours to keep up, it will not foster a happy workforce.
Supportive colleagues. You can end up seeing your colleagues more often than some friends and family; it's essential you get along with those you work alongside. A hostile work environment with backstabbing and finger-pointing is a stressful place to be. Instead, you want to be surrounded by those who share your goals and are willing to work together to achieve them and share in the success.
Transparent communication. Openness is key when it comes to communication in the workplace. Employees should feel like there are ways for them to express themselves comfortably, and should know their opinions are valued. Equally, when companies are transparent with their employees, job satisfaction tends to improve.
Focus on training and development. Organisations that provide clear roadmaps of how an individual can progress and develop will sustain fulfilment levels. Everyone likes to know there is room for them to grow, as well as feeling their employer believes in them and provides the necessary tools for progression.
Recognition for hard work. No-one will deny they enjoy being recognised for their good work. Whether it's in the form of rewards or simple compliments, getting this feedback spurs you on. If employers don't recognise hard work, over time people will lose all incentive to go the extra mile.
At work, by taking some thoughtful actions, you can make a huge difference to the daily lives of your colleagues.
1b. How to spot the signs of bullying
Although there is no legal definition for workplace bullying, HSE explain that it involves negative behaviour targeted at an individual, or individuals, repeatedly and persistently over time. According to the chair of Acas, Sir Brendan Barber, such behaviour is on the rise in the UK. "Callers to our helpline have experienced some horrific incidents around bullying that have included humiliation, ostracism, verbal and physical abuse," he said.
"But managers sometimes dismiss accusations around bullying as simply personality or management-style clashes, whilst others may recognise the problem but lack the confidence or skills to deal with it." When even those in charge are ignoring signs, it can be difficult to determine what is and isn't bullying.
Bullying in the workplace could be in person, or online. In fact, many bullies suddenly feel a lot braver when they can target people through a computer. But it won't go unnoticed, nor should online bullies get off scot-free with such damaging behaviour. Bullying could include:
Name calling. Whether you're receiving abusive messages on an internal system or being called out in the office, having someone call you names is unpleasant and demoralising. It's bullying.
Ignoring, isolating or excluding. Deliberating ignoring someone, or excluding them from relevant meetings are ways of intentionally making someone feel isolated.
Belittling. Equally, if someone contributes only to be made fun of or have their opinions discounted as bad or false, it can be considered bullying. This kind of undue criticism is unnecessary, as any good manager should be able to provide feedback in a constructive way.
Scapegoating. Someone might think it gets them off the hook, but blaming others for mistakes is a sign of something much worse – that you're willing to bully.
Manipulation of roles. Making threats about job security or purposefully blocking someone's progress at work, by removing their responsibilities without good reason, is a misuse of power.
Setting you up to fail. Being set unachievable tasks or targets, designed to see an individual fail, is an example of workplace bullying.
Spreading rumours. This kind of playground behaviour can have a huge impact on the general well-being of the victim.
Giving you meaningless tasks. Everyone has to take their turn to make a round of hot drinks, but if you keep getting set all the worst jobs, it could be a sign of bullying.
Aggressive behaviour. Any form of aggressive behaviour, such as shouting or intrusion of personal space, is unacceptable. Employees shouldn't feel scared in the workplace, even if they've made a mistake.
Bullying in the NHS: What are the effects?
20% of staff report they have been bullied by other staff
51% of staff who reported bullying perceived supervisors/managers to be the most common source
The effects of such behaviour include:
29.9% of all UK NHS staff indicated experience of psychological distress due to bullying behaviours
80% of staff believe the state of their health affects patient care
Source: NHS Employers
Bullying is not in your job description. You do not have to put up with anything that makes you feel unhappy or uncomfortable. In this forum, victims of bullying at work report feeling "at their wit's end", "victimised" and "generally made to feel awful."
Some people even worry they're being oversensitive, but bullying is likely to affect your self-esteem, not to mention your performance at work, as well as your home life. You shouldn't underestimate how it can make you feel. Nor should you put up with terrible excuses. Some people think they can justify bullying with some of the explanations below:
A clash of personalities
A type of leadership style
Provoked by the victim
Being excluded, threatened, or intimidated, is not an example of clashing with someone. Trying to pass bullying off as some kind of management style or as the victim's fault is unacceptable. If you're unsure, Acas suggest asking yourself the following questions to determine whether the way you're being treated is acceptable or not:
Has there been a change of management or organisational style to which you just need time to adjust – perhaps because you have a new manager or work requirements?
Is there an organisational statement of standards of behaviour that you can consult?
Can you talk over your worries with your personnel manager, your line manager/supervisor, union representative or colleagues, who you may find share your concerns?
Can you agree changes to workload or ways of working that will make it easier for you to cope?
To stamp out early signs of bullying, employees need to feel comfortable to discuss changes. If you answered no to any of the questions above, it's likely your worries about being bullied are justified.
1c. Bullying, harassment and the law
It might come as a surprise to some, but bullying isn't against the law. However, if a colleague or superior is being offensive and intimidating, it could be considered harassment – and could be illegal under the Equality Act 2010.
Under this act, harassment is defined as: unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual. The protected characteristics are:
Age, sex, or sexuality
Marital status, preganancy, maternity/paternity
Your race, religion, or beliefs
An example of harassment
At work, some of your colleagues keep making comments and jokes saying you're gay. They call you names and have on occasion left things like gay adult movies and magazines on your desk. They all know you're not actually gay. You could have claim for harassment related to sexual orientation.
Source: Citizens Advice
Although harassment can be a one-off incident, it's more frequently a series of incidents or bullying which takes place over time. Indeed, bullying can be unlawful harassment under the act if it's related to one of the protected characteristics.
Acas characterise bullying as: "offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient." The impact of such behaviour can be the same as harassment. In fact, the two terms are often used interchangeably.
However, unless bullying amounts to something which would be defined as harassment in the Equality Act 2010, it's not possible to make a complaint to an employment tribunal about it. Nevertheless, employers have a 'duty of care' for all their employees and should be taking steps to prevent bullying occurring in the first place.
1d. Constructive dismissal and employee rights explained
If you feel the mutual trust and confidence between you and your employer has been broken, you don't have to continue working there. If you've been bullied and harassed at work, you may be able to resign and claim constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.
Before you do though, we recommend reading the rest of this guide, including the flow chart at the end to see whether there are other ways to resolve the issue.
If you have any queries, it's also worth seeking professional advice. Solicitors are obliged to give you a 30-minute free consultation to find out if you have a case. They'll ask you to recollect events, dates, and any specifics or evidence you may have to see if you've got a valid case against your employer.
2. What to do if you're being bullied
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has said that every organisation should have a zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy. This belief that no-one should be put in the position where they dread coming to work is widespread, but taking the first steps to tackle bullying can be the most difficult.
2a. The first steps to deal with bullying in the workplace
Get to know your company's policy. Your employer should have a policy on behaviour in the workplace, including information on bullying. Find out all the details you can, including processes on informing supervisors and the steps you can expect them to take.
Start informally. If you feel safe enough, the best thing you can do is to first talk to the person who is bullying you. 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've treated you.
Make management or HR aware. In many instances, it isn't possible to confront the perpetrator head on. Instead, you've got to make the relevant people aware of what's going on. Whether it's management, HR, or your trade union, they'll be able to take steps on your behalf to resolve the issue.
Keep any evidence. Gathering a record of the date, times, place, details and names of any witnesses of any bullying could prove invaluable if anyone asks you to substantiate your claims. Save any horrible emails, and document the times you've been left out of relevant meetings.
Find someone to talk to. Bullying is a stressful thing to go through. You shouldn't have to experience it alone. Having someone you trust to talk to will help you minimise the impact it has on your life.
Make an official complaint. If you feel like your problem hasn't been taken seriously by those you informed at work, and the bullying hasn't stopped, you can seek to make an official complaint via the usual grievance procedures. Your employee handbook will detail this process.
2b. What to do if you're being bullied by a manager or boss
Unfortunately, it's common for bullying to come from your superiors. Those who've experienced a bad boss in the past will understand how much it can affect your daily life to have someone in charge that lacks respect for others at work.
"Although bullying takes place at all levels within the workplace, the most common perpetrators are managers. This type of bullying often arises due to an unequal balance of power, with managers attempting to control the behaviour of their subordinates through coercive methods," says Shainaz Firfiray, assistant professor of organisation and human resource management at Warwick Business School.
Just because they're in charge of you, it doesn't mean they can get away with bullying. The policy of any good company will include a designated colleague who you can talk through your concerns with, without fear of being punished for side-stepping your manager. You can show them your diary of events and discuss whether the behaviour was acceptable or not and make decisions on where to go next.
What's more, confidentially is a key part of the complaints process. You should always be treated fairly and sensitively.
2c. Deciding whether to take legal action
Taking legal action shouldn't be your first port of call. But if you feel, despite all your attempts, no progress has been made to stop the bullying, it's time to get advice on your legal rights.
It's important to have tried to resolve the problem with your company first. When you make a claim to an employment tribunal, that's one of the first things they'll ask you. If you can show them a record of the mistreatment, your efforts to resolve the issue, and the inaction from your company, then you could have a claim for constructive unfair dismissal. Bear in mind the following facts:
You need to have worked for your employer for 24 months
It needs to be considered harassment under the Equality Act 2010
According to the Equality Act, something can be counted as harassment where the behaviour is meant to or has the effect of either:
Violating your dignity
Creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment
3. What employers can do to prevent bullying
As an employer, you have a responsibility for your employees. Not only is it the right thing to do, but you have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees – and that includes protection from bullying and harassment. With offensive behaviour affecting workers from the shop floor to the C-Suite, it's something for bosses to take seriously.
3a. What bullying means for your business
Without a doubt, workplace bullying will have a detrimental impact on businesses. The cost of bullying-related absenteeism, turnover and lost productivity adds up to £13.5 billion every year.
It is in the interests of every business to make it clear that bullying will not be tolerated, as the effects include:
Poor employee relations. Teamwork is vital for most businesses. Productivity improves when everyone gets along, rather than throwing each other under the bus.
Hostile working environment. Similarly, a negative atmosphere can be awful for motivation levels. A low morale is infectious and can be difficult to get rid of.
Inefficiency. When distracted by the presence or threat of bullying, people struggle to focus on their work. Trying to get the best out of people by frightening them will never work – you have to support them.
Potential loss of staff. Not only could you lose staff, but if news spreads about a negative environment in your workplace, you'll struggle to attract new talent.
Loss of respect for superiors. Seeing those in charge disregard bullying will quickly cause people to lose respect for them.
3b. Top tips for creating a policy on bullying and harassment
Of course, all organisations – no matter the size – should have well-known procedures in place for dealing with grievance and disciplinary matters, including information on which staff employees can turn to for work-related problems.
To stop such problems from occurring in the first place, a good policy on accepted behaviour should include:
A statement of commitment from senior management
Acknowledgement that bullying and harassment are problems for the organisation
A clear statement that bullying and harassment is unlawful and will not be tolerated
Examples of unacceptable behaviour
A statement that bullying and harassment may be treated as disciplinary offences
The steps the organisation takes to prevent bullying and harassment
Responsibilities of supervisors and managers
Confidentiality for any complainant
Reference to grievance procedures (formal and informal), including timescales for action
Investigation procedures, including timescales for action
Reference to disciplinary procedures, including timescales for action counselling and support availability
How the policy is to be implemented, reviewed and monitored.
You could also add information about sources of emotional support. More than anything, though, leaders should be setting a good example to those around them. No matter what a policy says, if someone in charge is treating others badly, it will be seen and accepted as the norm. The way managers treat others is just as important as any formal policy. It's alarming how quickly bad behaviour can infiltrate through a team.
Instead of taking an authoritarian management style, get to know those you work with and consult with colleagues. Encourage openness and be the sort of person others feel comfortable talking to. After all, the signs of bullying are subtle and could easily slip past you, especially if you've got a hectic schedule. You must ensure employees feel happy coming forward with any concerns. That's not going to happen if you've been unsympathetic or aggressive before.
3c. The importance of a HR department, counselling and mediation
Dealing with and investigating complaints promptly and objectively requires a specialist set of skills. Not every manager will be equipped with the necessary experience – hence why people in HR are such valuable resources to companies. The perception of bullying can vary between individuals, making it important to consider all circumstances before reaching a conclusion. HR professionals are trained to do this sensitively.
However, HR doesn't have the best reputation. There's a misconception they'll immediately start a formal investigation. But that's just one option in the HR tool belt. They're more likely to sit down with the target of bullying confidentially, listen to their concerns and discuss the options available.
Although some issues (such as sexual harassment or workplace violence) may require HR to make formal steps, the decision about what to do next is normally down to the victim. Having HR to support them through this process is beneficial for employee and employer. Options could include:
Help with stress management
Developing a strategy for working with or confronting the bully
Creating greater awareness of bullying
Advising the bully against further acts or retaliation
Pursuing a formal investigation
Counselling could also play a role in dealing with bullying. It's a confidential avenue, perfect for an informal approach without the need for further formal actions. There might be someone trained in the company, or managers could contract counselling services. This should be paid for by the employer. Counselling is a great option if there's no reason for disciplinary action or there's doubt on the complaint.
Where an independent third person is needed, mediation can be used to resolve bullying issues. It's a voluntary process and helps find a solution that all parties can agree to, in order to fix the working relationship. Bullying can be the result of a lack of awareness and unintentional misunderstandings. In these instances, meditation is the ideal way to move forwards. Similarly to counselling, mediators could be internal or external.
3d. Expert advice on cutting out bullying
Leadership development. It's important for those in charge to understand effective leadership practices, how to influence culture, the best ways of setting and managing expectations, as well as how to deal with conflicts. This isn't something that comes naturally to everyone. You've got to equip managers with the tools they need.
Creating a culture of well-being. Getting the right work-life balance is important in managing the stress levels of employees. Often it is when people are under pressure or stress that they lash out at others. Instead, focus on creating an environment where well-being is put ahead of deadlines and targets. It will pay off in the long run, when you've got healthy, committed individuals with the motivation to succeed as a team.
Awareness and education for workers. Not everyone knows what constitutes bullying, nor do they understand the impact it can have on others. As an employer, it's your role to increase the awareness of bullying and the affects it can have in the workplace. Educating your workforce will not only show you're committed to creating a safe environment, but improve everyone's understanding of how behaviour can be misinterpreted and cause offense.
Signs of a good employer
To try and prevent bullying from occurring, a good employer will:
Have a policy in place for behaviour in the workplace
Manage discipline and grievances at work
Manage absences (victims of bullying often try and spend time away from the workplace)
Provide HR management
Have more than one HR contact
Provide HR training in things like having difficult conversations
Implement new employment legislation transparently
4. Creating a positive workforce
Company culture is a hot topic these days – and for good reason. The workplace environment you create can have a huge impact on the productivity levels and success of your business. Saying 'that's just how we do things around here' won't cut it anymore. Good business leaders should be taking active steps to improve employee engagement, as that's how they'll retain talent and create a place people are happy to be.
4a. How the right culture unlocks people's potential
A good culture will not only keep your current employees happy, but attract new talent. In the right environments, employees will go the extra mile to achieve shared goals.
4b. Top tips for encouraging your workforce
To encourage your workforce, you've got to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to flourish.
Make the company's core values clear. The values you want your company to embody set the tone for the entire organisation. They serve as a filter for employees at every level to help decision making, opportunity identification and risk management. What's important to your business? Let people know.
Improve transparency. Don't let any changes spread around the office as whispers and gossip. Employees want to know their primary duties, key working relationships and what is expected in terms of performance results. If anything is set to change those areas or how the business runs generally, make sure there's a structure in place so everyone is made aware.
Regularly offer up praise. Motivating someone can be as simple as telling them when they've done a good job.
Communicate goals clearly. Knowing what the job expectations and targets are provides the clarity every worker needs to focus on their progress.
Provide freedom. Once they know their goals, you don't need to watch over your employees like a hawk. Give them the space and opportunity to be creative and do things their own way. People like to feel they're trusted to get on with their job, rather than being micro-managed.
Regularly get feedback from your team . If you want to know how happy people are at work, the best way is to ask them. Get to know the people you work with and consult with them on key projects. Everyone likes to know their opinion is valued.
Plan team building days. Taking some time out of the usual office routine can do wonders for the well-being of your team. Encourage some team spirit by planning activities that encourage everyone to work together and build strong connections.
Taking steps to improve workplace culture will increase the success, well-being and heath of your team. Start today.
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