What to do if you’re being bullied at work

Bullying is always unacceptable, whatever form it comes in.

 

But sadly, it happens within this sector – with 12% of charity workers surveyed by Unite saying that bullying or harassment caused them a high level of stress.

 

 

What is bullying?

 

At its core, bullying is repeated behaviour that has the intention of hurting someone – whether that’s verbal, physical or online.

 

The Anti-Bullying Alliance describes it as: “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face to face or online.”

 

Bullying can take many forms – sometimes blatant, sometimes subtle. It could be:

• Giving someone impossible deadlines
• Ignoring someone’s contributions in meetings 
• Excluding someone from team activities 
• Constantly putting someone down in front of others

If you’re being bullied at work, here are some steps you can take.

 

 

Tell someone with whom you feel comfortable

 

Being bullied can be hugely distressing. Speaking about it with someone you trust – whether that’s at work or at home – can help you to remember that this isn’t your fault, and that there is support available to you.

 

 

Don’t wait to take action

 

While it can be scary, take action as soon as possible. Even broaching the subject could help you to feel empowered and regain some confidence. Letting it linger, in the hope it will go away, might only draw out the stress.

 

It takes courage to report bullying. But by sharing what’s happened to you, you might find that others have had similar experiences.

 

 

Talk to the person

 

If this feels possible, a first good step is to talk to the person directly to resolve the situation informally. Best chance scenario is that they’re not aware of their behaviour and the impact it’s having. Try to keep calm, stick to facts, and explain why their behaviour is unacceptable.

 

Plan what you’re going to say beforehand or run through it with someone you trust. If you don’t feel able to have the conversation yourself, you could ask a colleague to talk to the person on your behalf.

 

 

Get support

 

Talk to your manager or HR team – and if the person bullying you is your manager, then speak to their manager or to HR.

 

If you have an anti-bullying champion, you might feel more comfortable speaking to them first. Your employer has a duty of care towards you.

 

And, as The Charity Commission states: “Trustees must recognise that there is simply no place for bullying and harassment within, or by, charities”. 

 

 

Keep detailed notes

 

As soon as possible after an incident, write down what happened – include emails, screen shots of messages, and dates. Also, note down the names of anyone else who may have witnessed the bullying behaviour. Try to be factual and detailed.

 

These notes will help if you decide to raise a formal complaint. Also, if you’re being bullied, you might start doubting yourself. Having a timeline, in black and white, could give clarity about the situation you’re in and help you to feel more able to advocate for yourself.

 

 

Read your organisation’s bullying policies

 

The Charity Commission has stated that trustees must ensure charities have clear policies and that they handle allegations of bullying and harassment appropriately, in line with employment laws.

 

Get to know your charity’s policies and procedures: this will help you to know if the situation is being dealt with appropriately, and how to make a formal complaint if you go down that line.

 

 

Make a formal complaint

 

If the situation isn’t resolved informally, you can make a formal complaint through your charity’s grievance procedure. If still nothing is resolved, you could consider taking legal action at an employment tribunal – take professional advice to see if this is an option.

 

 

Get external support and advice

 

You can check out some of the resources available to you:

• The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) shares information and advice on employment rights and bullying at work, and has a helpline for anyone needing employment law or workplace advice
• The National Bullying Helpline is a free, confidential helpline for anyone experiencing bullying and needing advice
• Citizens Advice has information about what to do if you’re being harassed or bullied at work, including how to check if you’re being discriminated against
• If you are part of a union, such as UNISON, Unite, or Community, speak to your union representative for support and advice

 

 

Look after yourself

 

Bullying can be damaging and have a brutal impact on your work-life. Even after it’s stopped, it might take some time before you feel like yourself again. Take time to get any support you need, whether that’s professional help through your GP, counsellor, or psychotherapist, or support from friends and family.