Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Legal Q&AHR practiceBullying and harassment

Weekly dilemma: Poking fun at ‘Ugly Betties’

by Personnel Today 3 Apr 2007
by Personnel Today 3 Apr 2007

A new starter at our company has faced sniggers and negative remarks from other staff members because of her unfashionable dress sense and ‘geeky’ persona. I’m worried about an emerging culture of bullying towards her. What can I do?


Channel 4’s comedy Ugly Betty has done a good job highlighting the difficulties that new employees can face in settling into a new environment. The show follows the daily life of Betty Suarez, a young woman who has started a new job. Most of her female co-workers are more attractive than she is and they often humiliate and insult her because of her appearance.


Getting teased because of the way you look is the most common form of bullying, from the playground to the workplace. Employers must maintain certain standards if they are to foster a happy working environment.


Allowing consistent put-downs and personal remarks from colleagues about other people’s appearance is morally unacceptable and, for an employee with sufficient service, may provide the basis for a claim of constructive unfair dismissal.


However, for new employees, the scope for legal protection is limited as it is not at present possible to make a direct complaint to an employment tribunal about bullying in itself. Staff might be able to bring complaints under rules outlawing harassment contained within the anti-discrimination legislation. For example, legislation covering sex, age, race, religion, disability, sexuality or age all contain provisions of this type.


Alternatively, the provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act (originally intended to provide protection from stalkers and the like) have been interpreted as holding employers responsible for bullying and harassment in the workplace. Such claims are pursued in the county courts.


Employers should make it clear to new recruits during the induction process that bullying is not tolerated in the workplace, and they should have procedures in place to investigate and deal with allegations of bullying.


Mark Higgins, head of employment, Betesh Fox




Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Teacher at centre of veil row loses dismissal appeal against former employer Kirklees Council
next post
Hamburg’s Vocational School for Gastronomy and Nutrition launches doner kebab production course

You may also like

Employers must help employees ‘flourish’ post-pandemic

27 May 2022

Davos 2022: Upskilling workers necessary to overcome business...

26 May 2022

Policeman dubbed ‘Dolly Parton’ for working Nine to...

20 May 2022

BNP Paribas banker accused of ’emotional terrorism’ wins...

19 May 2022

Police Scotland pays out £948,000 to female officer...

16 May 2022

Lack of flexibility pushes half of women to...

16 May 2022

Employment tribunal: use of word ‘bald’ can amount...

13 May 2022

Dealing with bullying in uncertain times

10 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: Exclusivity contracts for low-paid workers to...

9 May 2022

Are we happy now? New research Sugar-coats working...

6 May 2022
  • Strathclyde Business School expands its Degree Apprenticeship offer in England PROMOTED | The University of Strathclyde is expanding its programmes...Read more
  • The Search for Talent: Six Major Employer Pitfalls PROMOTED | The Great Resignation continues unabated...Read more
  • Navigating the widening “Skills Confidence Gap” in 2022, and beyond PROMOTED | Cornerstone OnDemand conducted a global study...Read more
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+