Bullying at work — why it happens, what can be done
From sustained put-downs to career sabotage, abuse in the workplace is common but hard to eradicate. Should employers be doing more?
Recognising and acknowledging bullying in the workplace is important not only for victims, but the safety, wellbeing and ultimately productivity of the whole workforce. Most of us can recognise bullying behaviour when we see it. It’s not necessarily unlawful, but that doesn’t make it right.
I added my comments to this timely article in the Financial Times, published today. I’m sure there’s something in it that will resonate with everyone, whatever their experience may be.
If you have any concerns about bullying, bad behaviours or worse, do get in touch at kevin.poulter@freeths.co.uk.
Kevin Poulter, a partner at Freeths, a UK law firm, says that retaliatory bullying of employees who raise legitimate concerns “happens more than one might think”. But convincing investigators can be tricky. Over time, “there’s a pattern of treating one person differently” that adds up to bullying, he says. Yet individually each microaggression — such as refusing one employee’s requests to attend courses or conferences that their peers would get rubber-stamped — appears trivial.
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