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ONE IN FIVE STAFF ‘BULLIED’ IN PAST 12 MONTHS

More than one in five employees [in the UK] say they have been bullied over the past year, according to a survey by a personnel consultancy. The findings will encourage those campaigning for tough government action to stamp out bullying.

However, the Department of Trade and Industry, responding to the survey, said bullying was “hard to define” and therefore “a difficult concept to place into workable legislation”.

But Patrick Gilbert, head of organisational research and effectiveness at Mercer Human Resource Consulting, the survey’s sponsor, said: “People have a very clear idea of what is bullying. Bullying is about intimidation, to get people doing what you want them to do. It’s more than basic rudeness, such as not saying good morning.”

The survey, based on a stratified sample of 3,500 employees, found that about one in 12 employees said they have been bullied on several occasions. It suggested that middle and even senior managers were commonly bullied, as well as more lowly workers.

The survey also found that bullying was most entrenched in public healthcare. Mr Gilbert suggested this might be due to the pressure caused by the rapid pace of change in the sector, staff shortages, and the high stakes involved. “The risk and outcomes are much more serious than if you’re working in a record shop.”

Gary Bowker, an expert in employment law at Mercer, said there was “a gap in the law” when it came to bullying. Discrimination laws could be effective, but employees who could not use these protections had to resign and take action for constructive dismissal, he said.

THE FINANCIAL TIMES, Oct. 3, 2002