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?Zero tolerance? on workplace bullies

Union leaders have won government backing for a campaign calling on firms to stamp out bullying in the workplace. Trade union Amicus said bullying was costing industry up to £2bn a year in sick pay, staff turnover and lost productivity.

The manufacturers’ union said only 2% of employers currently had a policy of zero tolerance towards bullying at work. Their research also revealed that 97% of organisations have never quantified the impact of bullying on their employees. One of the key findings in the research is that is that the organisations who deal most effectively with bullying are those who take a zero tolerance approach to the problem.

The figures come from a survey conducted by Amicus in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry. The research was carried out as part of a massive workplace anti-bullying campaign carried out by Amicus in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Derek Simpson, Amicus General Secretary, said one of the best ways to tackle bullying behaviour in the workplace was to “nip it in the bud. “Our project aims to tackle this problem in partnership with employers by taking a zero tolerance approach to bullying from the outset.”

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said: “Bullying at work is a big problem and employers need to be aware of it. It corrodes employees’ self-confidence and self-esteem and leads to a hostile working environment. It’s bad for staff and it’s bad for business.”

“People who feel harassed or victimised can’t do their job properly, and businesses that do not tackle bullying suffer from days lost through stress and illness, decreased productivity and damage to their reputation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .