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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
    • Zero hours

    McDonald’s: zero hours culture feeds sexual harassment allegations

    by Emma Cocker 10 Feb 2025
    by Emma Cocker 10 Feb 2025

    A deluge of allegations of employee harassment and abuse are threatening to cloud the fast food giant's reputation.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    Gino D’Acampo accused of ‘inappropriate and intimidating’ behaviour

    by Jo Faragher 7 Feb 2025
    by Jo Faragher 7 Feb 2025

    Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo is at the centre of ‘dozens’ of allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour towards TV production...

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

    Welsh fire services accused of bullying and harassment

    by Jo Faragher 5 Feb 2025
    by Jo Faragher 5 Feb 2025

    Two inquiries into workplace culture at Welsh fire and rescue services have found evidence of bullying, harassment and nepotism. 

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    BBC apologises for failure to deal with Russell Brand’s behaviour

    by Adam McCulloch 30 Jan 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 30 Jan 2025

    BBC director of editorial complaints said on Thursday that he had investigated eight complaints about Brand during his review.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Zero hours

    Employment Rights Bill: EHRC warns MPs of ‘cumulative’ impact

    by Rob Moss 14 Jan 2025
    by Rob Moss 14 Jan 2025

    EHRC briefs MPs on impact of Employment Rights Bill, including compatibility of the rights regarding harassment and freedom of expression.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Hospitality
    • Latest News

    ‘Air kiss’ did not amount to sexual harassment

    by Rob Moss 9 Jan 2025
    by Rob Moss 9 Jan 2025

    Whisky shop worker's claim that an air kiss amounted to sexual harassment is dismissed at the employment tribunal.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Zero hours
    • Latest News

    McDonald’s chief accused of running ‘predator’s paradise’

    by Jo Faragher 8 Jan 2025
    by Jo Faragher 8 Jan 2025

    An MP has accused McDonald’s of running a ‘predator’s paradise’ and a ‘hotbed of harassment’ in a parliamentary select committee.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Hospitality

    McDonald’s faces further harassment allegations

    by Rob Moss 7 Jan 2025
    by Rob Moss 7 Jan 2025

    McDonald’s boss to answer MPs' questions after new allegations of harassment emerge, despite company’s efforts to stamp out toxic culture.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Latest News
    • Gender pay gap

    Whistleblowing: Are there lessons to learn from the financial services sector?  

    by Paul Fontes and Ruth Christy 27 Dec 2024
    by Paul Fontes and Ruth Christy 27 Dec 2024

    Ruth Christy and Paul Fontes highlight the issues concerning whistleblowing and look at developments in the financial services sector.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Northern Ireland
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Woman settles in Christmas party sexual harassment case

    by Jo Faragher 13 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 13 Dec 2024

    A woman has settled a case of alleged sexual harassment at a work Christmas dinner.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Zero hours
    • Employment law

    What the Employment Rights Bill means for recruiting seasonal workers

    by Adam Grant and Abigail Jacks 13 Dec 2024
    by Adam Grant and Abigail Jacks 13 Dec 2024

    Employers of seasonal workers need to be well versed in the proposals of the Employment Rights Bill, which if misunderstood or ignored could lead to tribunal proceedings and reputational damage.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Latest News
    • Workplace culture

    What the Gregg Wallace controversy can teach us

    by Nik Kinley 6 Dec 2024
    by Nik Kinley 6 Dec 2024

    Physchological distance: Leadership consultant Nik Kinley examines the lessons we can learn from the Gregg Wallace controversy

    • Constructive dismissal
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Employment law

    The 10 strangest employment tribunal cases of 2024

    by Adam McCulloch 6 Dec 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 6 Dec 2024

    From seemingly throwaway remarks to out-of-the-blue dismissals, here are 10 of the more bizarre and unusual employment tribunal cases from 2024.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Local authorities
    • Gender

    Archivist wins appeal after being called ‘sour and bitter’

    by Jo Faragher 4 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 4 Dec 2024

    A woman who was referred to as a ‘sour and bitter individual’ has won her case at the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    GMB still mired in sexism and bullying allegations, say employees

    by Adam McCulloch 29 Nov 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 29 Nov 2024

    A group of current and former GMB employees are set to complain to watchdog the Equality and Human Rights Commission about institutional sexism at the trade union.

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