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Bullying and harassment

In a workplace context, “harassment” is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 (other than marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity) that has the purpose of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. Harassment in the workplace can also occur where a person reasonably considers conduct to have that effect, even if the effect is unintended.

“Bullying” is not defined in UK employment law. Acas defines workplace bullying as “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the person being bullied”. The Health and Safety Executive stresses that bullying is a pattern of behaviour rather than isolated instances, and states that it “involves negative behaviour being targeted at an individual, or individuals, repeatedly and persistently over time”.


    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    Gregg Wallace sacked amid fresh misconduct allegations

    by Jo Faragher 9 Jul 2025
    by Jo Faragher 9 Jul 2025

    MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace has been sacked as a result of an inquiry into allegations of inappropriate conduct on set.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Disability discrimination
    • Latest News

    HR manager with ‘messy’ work loses discrimination case

    by Jo Faragher 25 Jun 2025
    by Jo Faragher 25 Jun 2025

    An HR manager who was told his work was ‘messy’ has lost a case for discrimination and harassment at tribunal.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    BBC Breakfast bullying and misconduct allegations under investigation

    by Adam McCulloch 20 Jun 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 20 Jun 2025

    BBC Breakfast editor steps aside from programme as bullying culture is investigated by outside consultants.

    • Belief discrimination
    • NHS
    • Bullying and harassment

    Barts nurse told to remove watermelon image claims discrimination

    by Rob Moss 19 Jun 2025
    by Rob Moss 19 Jun 2025

    Barts NHS Trust dress code led to nurse launching discrimination claim after he was told to remove watermelon video background.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    HR is second ‘most sexist profession’ survey suggests

    by Adam McCulloch 13 Jun 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 13 Jun 2025

    According to a newly published survey IT and telecoms is the most sexist sector for women to work in in the UK – closely followed by HR.

    • Age discrimination
    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment

    NDA ban vital to tackling misogyny in music industry

    by Rob Moss 4 Jun 2025
    by Rob Moss 4 Jun 2025

    MPs call on ministers to ban non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in cases involving sexual misconduct, bullying, or discrimination.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Employment law
    • Disability discrimination

    Disability harassment and discrimination ‘shockingly high’

    by Rob Moss 3 Jun 2025
    by Rob Moss 3 Jun 2025

    Disability harassment, bullying, discrimination is pervasive, the TUC has cautioned as it publishes new polling data.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Case law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Consultation launched after Supreme Court ‘sex’ ruling

    by Rob Moss 20 May 2025
    by Rob Moss 20 May 2025

    EHRC launches consultation on updates made to code of practice following last month’s Supreme Court’s judgment on the definition of sex.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Constructive dismissal
    • Disability

    Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of bullying

    by Rob Moss 20 May 2025
    by Rob Moss 20 May 2025

    Manager who left job after being 'victim of continuous bullying and racism' – including being called a ‘slave’ – awarded £360,700 at tribunal.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Employment law

    Ministers urged to outlaw misuse of NDAs

    by Rob Moss 7 May 2025
    by Rob Moss 7 May 2025

    Former transport secretary Louise Haigh joins activists calling on a ban of NDAs in the Employment Rights Bill.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Lincolnshire doctor awarded £250k in race discrimination case

    by Adam McCulloch 2 May 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 2 May 2025

    Allegations of bullying were made against the professor by a former member of his team after they resigned in 2018. Prof Ahmed said the allegations were a ‘malicious retaliation’.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    BBC to ‘act immediately’ on workplace culture review

    by Jo Faragher 28 Apr 2025
    by Jo Faragher 28 Apr 2025

    The BBC will take ‘immediate action’ to improve its workplace culture after publishing an independent review.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Social mobility
    • Employment law

    Eight new equality laws in the pipeline

    by Rob Moss 10 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 10 Apr 2025

    Rob Moss examines eight potential new equality laws, including race and disability equal pay rules and dual discrimination claims.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Case law
    • Bullying and harassment

    Philip Green loses human rights case at ECHR

    by Rob Moss 8 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 8 Apr 2025

    ECHR rejects legal challenge by Sir Philip Green to stop parliamentary privilege allowing the disclosure of names in privacy injunctions.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Belief discrimination
    • NHS

    Darlington nurses’ changing room case delayed to October

    by Rob Moss 3 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 3 Apr 2025

    Judge told NHS Trust facing claim over trans access to nurses changing rooms that it must now comply with proceedings.

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