Companies putting policies in place to tackle bullying at work could be missing the underlying causes, according to a new report.
Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that when bullying occurs the focus is almost exclusively on the victim with little attention given to those accused of bullying.
Most training is given to HR professionals while those most likely to be involved in bullying issues – the line managers – are often lack the training that would enable them to deal with problems before they escalate.
CIPD professional adviser Imogen Haslam said: “If employers are serious about tackling the problem they should be training line managers to recognise the signs and take action to encourage people to recognise and change their behaviour before situations arise.”
With line managers making up 38 per cent of those accused of bullying, giving them more training might help them distinguish the fine line between autocratic management styles and bullying, she said.
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The report found:
- Line managers make up 38 per cent of those accused of bullying
- Peers of victim make up 37 per cent
- Department managers make up 22 per cent
- Subordinates of the victims of bullying make up 13 per cent
