Designating today as National Ban Bullying at Work Day, the TUC
published figures that suggest around two million people have been
bullied at work in the past six months.
The victims of bullying often have their confidence undermined
to such an extent that they no longer feel able to do their jobs.
Many feel they have no option but to go off sick, while others are
forced to find alternative employment.
A recent TUC survey of over 5,000 employees revealed that in
three quarters of bullying incidents, the perpetrator had been a
manager or supervisor. But managers themselves are often bullied in
turn by their bosses.
A separate UNISON / Acas
survey found that 49% of middle managers have fallen victim at some
point.
“These figures suggest that there can be few workplaces in the
UK without a resident bully,” said TUC General Secretary Brendan
Barber. “But although bullying can destroy lives and have a
damaging effect upon workplace morale, the overwhelming majority of
employers seem unable to stop bullies in their tracks.”
He called on employers to treat bullying as they would any other
workplace hazard, and develop policies to prevent it from
occurring.
“Ban Bullying at Work Day is a good way of drawing attention to
the workplace problem which forces many of its victims to suffer in
silence,” he said. “A new dignity at work bill, which outlaws
bullying at work, would help employers better get to grips with
this ugly phenomenon of 21st century Britain at work.”
Separately, Acas, has launched a free online learning
course to help employers understand and prevent bullying in the
workplace.
