Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Bullying and harassmentLatest NewsEmployment tribunalsLine managersWorkplace culture

Bullying claims up to record high, data shows

by Jo Faragher 11 Jul 2022
by Jo Faragher 11 Jul 2022 Examples of 'virtual' bullying could be gossip or messaging during video meetings
Shutterstock
Examples of 'virtual' bullying could be gossip or messaging during video meetings
Shutterstock

The number of employment tribunal claims involving bullying has increased to a record high in the last 12 months, according to data compiled by law firm Fox & Partners.

It found that claims involving allegations of bullying went up by 44% from 581 to 835 in the year to 31 March 2022, suggesting this could be a “canary in the mine” moment that organisations are failing to address toxic work cultures.

The number of claims briefly reduced during the pandemic, dropping to 581 in 2020/21 from 708 the year before.

The firm added that virtual working could be creating “novel” patterns of bullying that are more difficult to identify than in face-to-face working environments.

This might include cutting remarks made on video calls that are difficult to address, deliberately leaving colleagues out of remote meetings, and using messaging apps to gossip during colleagues’ presentations.

Bullying

MP seeks action on Passport Office’s ‘toxic’ working culture 

Workplace culture articles 

How to create psychological safety at work

At a time when companies are struggling to hire new recruits, a bullying culture could lead to a loss of crucial talent, the firm added.

Ivor Adair, partner at Fox & Partners, said: “Tackling workplace bullying is no easy task, particularly in changing work environments.

“The record number of bullying claims is a worrying sign that some leadership teams have struggled to maintain healthy workplaces during the shift to hybrid working.”

He added that senior managers needed to detect and address concerns at all levels before conflict escalates.

“Employers should consider a suite of techniques that will effect lasting change, such as coaching, or more structured supervision and pastoral care programs,” he advised.

“Employers must also be willing to enforce company policies to protect and support colleagues at risk, if workplace cultures are to be improved.”

There have been multiple high-profile examples of the impact of toxic work cultures in recent months, including allegations of bullying at BrewDog and the disturbing findings of an independent investigation into misogyny and harassment in the Met Police.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Fox & Partners added that managers should follow the guidance of relevant regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority, as an atmosphere of bullying or stress can cause significant harm to both business and reputation.

Employee relations opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more Employee Relations jobs

Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

previous post
How engaging with Gen Z can help in the recruitment crisis
next post
Cost of living crisis fuelling stress, anxiety and depression

You may also like

Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of...

20 May 2025

Ministers urged to outlaw misuse of NDAs

7 May 2025

Lincolnshire doctor awarded £250k in race discrimination case

2 May 2025

BBC to ‘act immediately’ on workplace culture review

28 Apr 2025

Philip Green loses human rights case at ECHR

8 Apr 2025

Woman asked ‘why do you want to work’...

3 Apr 2025

One in seven experience workplace abuse, finds major...

2 Apr 2025

Former minister calls for end to ‘two-tier’ use...

2 Apr 2025

University of Sussex attacks Kathleen Stock freedom of...

27 Mar 2025

DSTL scientist constructively dismissed for gender-critical views

24 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+