Recent figures from the Chartered Management Institute show that 39% of people in employment have suffered some form of bullying at work during the last three years.

The issue is so important that specialist charity, The Andrea Adams Trust, believes that over 1 million people across the UK will participate in activities during its fourth ‘Ban Bullying at Work Day’ on 7 November, when bystanders to workplace bullying will be encouraged to speak out against it.

Many people, though, are unaware of the legal protection that exists to guard against workplace bullying. While there is no specific law in place relating to this very serious issue, there are many aspects of employment law that can be used to prevent bullying in the workplace. For example, the Employment Rights Act contains a section on victimisation, and legislation preventing age, sexual and racial discrimination can be relevant in many cases.

Business owners and managers may also be unaware of their responsibilities. It is a standard line in many contracts of employment that employers shall give reasonable support to prevent employees from harassment and disruption by fellow workers. However there have been cases of employees successfully taking action against their employers, which can be very expensive for the business concerned.

Any employer or employee seeking advice on their responsibilities and rights should call Adam Marshall on 01491 572138 who is the firm’s employment law specialist.