Bullying and harassment at work continues to be a problem, with a significant percentage of respondents to the most recent NHS Staff Survey saying they have experienced bullying, harassment, or abuse from managers or colleagues.
Read the NHS staff survey
Workplace bullying and/or harassment can have a detrimental impact on lives in and out of work. No one should feel they have to tolerate these behaviours. Employed BDA members with concerns about bullying or harassment at work should not delay in seeking advice and support from our Employment Relations Team.
‘Bullying’ and ‘harassment’ are often used together, or interchangeably. Whilst not mutually exclusive, these terms have distinct meanings.
Bullying is defined by Acas, an independent public body providing advice, guidance, conciliation and dispute resolution services in the following way:
“Offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.”
Harassment is defined under the Equality Act 2010 as: “unwanted conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating a hostile, humiliating, or offensive environment.”
Employment tribunal claims for unlawful harassment must link the behaviour to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act, such as gender, race, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or gender reassignment. However, local employment policies should address all forms of harassment.
Read more about equality and diversity in the workplace.
Bullying and harassment may result from misunderstandings or deliberate actions. These behaviours should be defined primarily in terms of the impact on the recipient, not the intent of the perpetrator. Bullying and/or harassment may be by an individual against another, or groups of people may be involved.
Below you can read more about what to do if you consider that you are being bullied or harassed by a colleague, or if someone has accused you of bullying or harassment. In addition, we offer advice on bullying and harassment by patients.