Bullying is steadily increasing in UK workplaces according to figures released by the TUC to coincide with this week’s ban bullying at work day.
Fifteen per cent of the union safety reps questioned in the latest TUC bi-annual survey of union safety reps said bullying was a major problem in their workplace. Two years ago, 12 per cent of reps raised bullying as a big concern and in 2002 only ten per cent had done so.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Bullying is bad for business and for people. Bullies in the workplace must not go unchallenged and should not be given free rein to intimidate and victimise their colleagues.
“For individuals who are targeted by the office bully, the taunting and the jibes can severely damage their work and their home lives.
“But bullying is not hard to tackle. Every workplace should have a policy which makes clear that intimidating behaviour towards colleagues will not be tolerated and that those who persist in undermining their fellow members of staff will be dealt with severely.”
He added that the introduction of a dignity at work bill would force employers to take the problem more seriously.
