How can I deal with a workplace bully?

QI THINK one of my colleagues is being bullied at work but when I tried to talk about it, they were reluctant to make a fuss and saying it was ‘just a bit of banter’. What do you suggest?

A. Bullying in the workplace can have a terrible impact on the affected employee and can lead to anxiety, illness, absence and even resignation. Bullying is often characterised by offensive, malicious or insulting behaviour, but it is not explicitly defined in the 2010 Equality Act.

‘Harassment’ refers to unwanted behaviour that relates to a protected characteristic, such as age, sex, disability, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Harassment can and often does include bullying behaviour and is expressly prohibited by the Equality Act.

Bullying and harassment in the workplace, manifest themselves in many different ways, and can often be subtle enough to go unnoticed by those who are not directly affected, including management and others who might be in a position to intervene. This ambiguous behaviour can lead to people like your friend doubting the seriousness of the situation and themselves. Ultimately though, if your friend is on the receiving end of unwanted attention or behaviour, heor she should consider their options and decide on the best course of action.

Although it can be a daunting prospect, one option would be to talk to a line manager or someone in HR who can advise on the organisation’s policies and procedures on unacceptable behaviour. Bullying and harassment in the workplace can create serious problems for firms and organisations and can impact on morale, reputation and productivity. So it is in an employer’s best interests to promote a safe, healthy and fair working environment. Some larger organisations have free, confidential employee helplines which might also provide relevant support and information.

Your colleague might want to keep a diary of incidents, steps taken and copies of anything that’s relevant. This is not a means of resolving the issue, but it might prove useful depending on how things progress.

If it seems impossible to resolve the issue informally, a complaint can be made through the firm’s grievance procedure, which all firms are required to have. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) provide free advice for employees and there are a number of free confidential bullying helplines which you can find out about online.

If the problem isn’t resolved, and your friend decides to seek legal advice, a Scottish solicitor will be able to provide the proper advice and assistance. This answer is not definitive legal advice. Always seek professional advice for your own particular situation. Your can find local solicitors on the Law Society of Scotland website at www. Find a Solicitor. scot