Workplace bullying: many companies do not have procedures in place to deal with harassment
BULLYINGin the workplace is alarmingly common, as a recent initiative by the Trade Union Congress revealed.
When it launched a hotline for members with work-related problems last year, bullying was one of the most common causes of complaint.
But many of those employees being bullied at work never report the matter, partly because they don’t think they will be taken seriously but also because many companies don’t have a policy in place for dealing with harassment.
“Most of the bullying experienced by employees is never translated into formal complaints to employers. Quite often this is because there is no policy or other way for bullied employees to raise the issue,” said a spokeswoman for Industrial Relations Services which recently carried out a study into bullying in the workplace.
Its survey revealed that companies without a written policy covering bullying were more likely to report that they had “no problem” with the issue than those with a laid-down procedure.
The shopworkers’ union USDAW, which represents thousands of travel industry employees, said that bullied employees usually decide to resign without reporting the matter.
An USDAW spokesman said:”It takes a lot of courage to confront a bully in the workplace, and often people don’t like to complain because they worry that no-one will believe them.”
Sally-Ann, a contractor for a large UK tour operator, quit her job after persistent bullying and sexual harassment by two senior members of staff.
She says she was subjected to so much abuse during her time with the company that she even kept a diary of harassment which she intended to use to make a formal complaint.
“One particular boss used to shout at me in front of the whole office and once I was so humiliated I ended up in tears – and believe me, I am not the sort of person who cries easily ,” she said. “Another of my managers was constantly making lewd suggestions.”
Sally-Ann finally resigned after she announced her plans to get married and her boss told her that meant she would no longer be able to do her job.
“I did complain to one of the directors about what he had said, and he was very good and assured me that my marital status would not affect my job prospects, but by then I had had enough and I left anyway.”
IRS said its survey revealed that companies are beginning to take the issue of bullying much more seriously.
Thomson – the only company which agreed to discuss its grievance procedure with Travel Weekly – said it was planning to introduce a policy to deal with harassment by the end of this year.
“Thomson has not had a single complaint of harassment, either in the UK or overseas, but we consider it good practice to have a policy to deal with this should it arise,” said a spokeswoman.
n Sally-Ann’s name has been changed to protect her identity.