Economy Suffers Loss Due to Bullying, Reports Unison
Unison spoke to around 7,000 workers recently and found out that they have been bullied by their associates quite often. In fact, more than one third reported being bullied, which does not bode well as it is double of the number of workers being bullied in 1997.
Bullying of workers include refusal to give information, too much censure or supervision of work, terrorising, speaking disrespectfully, etc. Workers do not complain due to fear or because they think that no action will be taken. The consequence is that the workers suffer without anyone knowing, and 80% of them reported facing mental and physical problems due to such acts. At times, workers even leave their work or take long leaves in order to avoid being bullied.
Defending the right to a dignified work environment, Dave Prentis, Unison’s General Secretary, urged both the government and HSE to take steps to protect workers from such behaviours by other workers. Prentis believes that the government needs to make legislation for the same, and that the legislation can be enforced by helping the workers through Employment Tribunal.
Prentis further said that HSE should impose an obligation on employers to include bullying in the factors to be considered while conducting risk assessment at the workplace. He stressed the fact that it is important for the companies as well as the government to understand that they are suffering losses due to bullying, as workers go on leaves and close to14 million working days are lost every year due to the same.
All organisations need to make appropriate efforts to protect the well-being of staff, Workplace Law provide courses by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which impart training to managers to successfully manage appropriate policies and procedures and improve upon management skills to help tackle bullying and stress in the workplace.
