Bullying in the Workplace

Bullying in the workplace can take many different forms, and can be very difficult to determine in a legal context. To make matters even more complicated, there is currently no specific UK employment law legislation that covers bullying in the workplace, even though research has shown that workplace harassment is a widespread problem that can harm both employers and employees alike.

While employers do have an established duty of care to their employees and a legal obligation to ensure their safety and protection, employees should be expected to tolerate a certain degree of unpleasantness from colleagues and co-workers. Every accusation of bullying in the workplace must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the assistance of a legal professional is highly recommended.

As there is no legislation that relates directly to bullying in the workplace, cases of workplace bullying are normally pursued using other forms of legislation, including:

If there is no element of discrimination in the bullying, a case can also be pursued under the Protection from Harassment Act. Originally conceived as a deterrent to stalking, the Protection from Harassment Act contains elements that can be applied to cases involving workplace bullying.

Workplace Harassment

Whether you’re an employee who has been affected by workplace harassment or an employer seeking to put into practice a policy to safeguard your own employees, Ashby Cohen can help you. We deal exclusively with employment law cases, and our years of experience as employment lawyers make us uniquely qualified to assist you with any workplace bullying issues you may have. Simply phone 020 7408 1338 or visit our contact page for a free initial consultation.

Other areas of employment law which may interest you if you have experienced bullying in the workplace include redundancy law and unfair dismissal.