HR to play vital role in project to tackle bullying

HR will play a central role in a £1.8m project to stamp out workplace
bullying.

Announced by trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt last week, the
world’s largest anti-bullying and discrimination project will be led by trade
union Amicus.

Half the project’s funding – almost £1m – will come from the DTI’s Strategic
Partnership Fund, which aims to help strengthen employer-employee relationships
and improve business performance.

Rebecca Clake, organisation and resourcing adviser at the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), welcomed the new project and
said HR was crucial to its success.

"Personal dignity in the workplace is extremely important. One of the
main issues from an employer point of view will be communication. Unless staff
realise who they can turn to if they are experiencing bullying, then many might
not come forward at all."

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Clake said that the project marked an important step in the right direction.
"The project sends a positive message that the Government is taking the
issue seriously," she added.

Chris Ball, national secretary of Amicus, said: "I’m convinced we’ll
find many employers willing to work with us to develop human respect and
dignity as the appropriate denominator in all workplace relationships."