News: Contract Law
Discrimination training: Line managers urged to take 'zero tolerance' approach to bullying
10 September 2008
A significant proportion of line managers could benefit from training to deal with bullying and harassment issues more adequately in their workplace, a new study suggests.
YouGov's poll indicates that three and a half million people, or one in seven of the workforce, claim to have been bullied - often by senior managers - in their current job.
More workers in the public sector admit they have been subject to harassment or bullying, with 16 per cent of respondents contrasting with the private sector's 12 per cent.
The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, by which the study was commissioned, said the situation is "completely unacceptable".
"It is particularly disturbing that more people complain of bullying in the public sector," observed Brendan Barber.
"Every organisation needs to have an anti-bullying policy, and every manager should ensure that there is zero tolerance of bullying either by line managers or workmates," he added.
The consequences of neglecting the importance of management training and discrimination awareness were highlighted by F&C Asset Management last month.
According to the Financial Times, the fund manager is facing "a record payout" after a London employment tribunal ruled in favour of its former legal head over an alleged 18-month campaign of bullying and harassment.
