What to do about bullying and harassment at work?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance for employers on preventing stress at work that makes it clear that bullying and harassment can be a cause of stress and that preventative measures must include action to eliminate bullying and harassment where it exists.

Do you have a duty to protect your employees from bullying?

All employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. That includes protection from bullying and harassment at work.

How does the health and Safety Executive deal with bullying?

The Health and Safety Executive also states that “there should be systems in place to deal with interpersonal conflicts such as bullying and harassment”. The Employment Rights Act 1996 allows employees to claim unfair dismissal if they are forced to leave their job because of actions by their employer or a failure to deal with any complaint.

When is a worker bullied at work what happens?

When is a worker bullied at work? A worker is bullied at work if, while the worker is at work in a constitutionally-covered business, another individual, or group of individuals, repeatedly behaves unreasonably towards the worker, and that behaviour creates a risk to health and safety.

What do you need to know about bullying in the workplace?

A summary of your employer’s anti-bullying policy should be displayed prominently within the workplace. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) works to ensure that workplace bullying is not tolerated and it provides information and advice on bullying.

What are the first steps to stop bullying?

To stop hurtful behaviour we all need to respond when it occurs and take steps to prevent it. The first step is recognizing when there is a problem. Here is some information to help you figure out whether a teen you know has experienced, seen, heard or taken part in bullying.

When is the Code of practice for bullying effective?

The Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work (pdf) is effective since 23 December 2020.

Is there an anti bullying policy in the workplace?

There should be an anti-bullying policy and established procedures for dealing with complaints of bullying in the workplace. Your employer should deal with such complaints immediately. The Workplace Relations Commission has a Code of Practice detailing Procedures for Addressing Bullying in the Workplace.