"Bullying consists of the least competent most aggressive employee projecting their incompetence on to the least aggressive most competent employee and winning."Bullies thrive wherever authority is weak"   - (Tim Field www.bullyonline.org)

Bullying

Bullying is defined as repeated inappropriate behaviour, direct or indirect, whether it is verbal/physical or otherwise, by one or more persons against another or others which could reasonably be regarded as undermining the individual’s right to dignity, either in the workplace or in education.

If you are experiencing bullying at work you must bring it to your employer attention .  There is legislation in place which directs how bullying should be investigated and eradicated in the workplace; click here to see what is required: http://bit.ly/cOSEJG

Bullying can have a catastrophic effect on the victim's health leading to serious emotional, physical and psychological imbalance.  It is capable of eroding and violating a persons sense of being .  From a legal perspective an employer will be held responsible for the actions of his employees (vicariously liable). an employer can be sued for inter alia breaches of statute law such as the Safety Health & welfare a Work Act, the Employment Equality Acts and addition, claims for breach of contract and of course, personal injury,  Therefore it is vital for an employer to have a working policy on how to deal with it.  We would recommend instructing a third party mediator to address contentious complaints of bullying.  Some of the largest compensation awards have been made for bullying complaints brought to the Tribunals alone.

The Employment Equality Act 1998,for example,  outlaws discrimination on nine distinct grounds gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race and membership of the traveller community.

Bullying includes anything that is offensive to a reasonable person, for instance-oral or written slurs, physical contact, gestures, jokes, displaying of pictures, graffiti, personal insults or name calling, persistent unjustified criticism or sarcasm, public or private humiliation, sneering, instantaneous rage, unfair delegation of duties or responsibilities, impossible deadlines, aggression and refusal of reasonable requests continuously without good reason, and verbal abuse.

Harassment

Harassment may be defined as any act or conduct, which is unwelcome or offensive, humiliating or intimidating. It includes any action, which causes a person to feel harassed, alarmed, distressed or fearful that violence will be used against them.

This might include Disability harassment, which makes a person feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, offended or threatened because of their disability.

Racial harassment may include the abusive treatment of people based on the colour of their skin, or their racial or ethnic origins.

• Have you been the victim of bullying or harassment in your workplace?
• Are you currently on certified sick leave for bullying or harassment?
• Has your employer investigated your complaint of bullying or harassment?
• Has the incidence of bullying or harassment affected you mentally?