Workplace Bullying Victims Must Speak Up

17 November 2011

Stress caused by the challenging economic climate is no excuse for physical or verbal abuse in the workplace, according to the chief executive of a leading North East advice service.

The spotlight was thrown on bullying recently as part of national Anti-Bullying Week 2011 - from 14 to 18 November - and the awareness-raiser coincided with the publication of Government economic figures that showed, despite a slight drop in inflation, unemployment was still rocketing.

Meanwhile, figures from Cardiff and Plymouth Universities, also published this month, revealed that one million people have experienced violence in the workplace in the past two years.

And Liz Chadwick, chief executive of DAWN Advice, said there was a clear link between economic pressures and bullying in the workplace - and urged victims of any form of bullying to speak up.

Liz said: "The turbulent economic climate - the worst since the 1930s - is creating working pressures that very few people have experienced in their lifetime.

"The pressures of impossible deadlines, cutting costs and the threat of redundancy across most sectors are creating a volatile atmosphere that is, at the very least, counter-productive, but at worst is potentially abusive and hostile.

"What was arguably most surprising about the figures is that it is frequently well-paid professionals in full-time jobs that are on the receiving end of physical and verbal abuse. This isn't just thousands of people - it is apparently many millions.

"Everyone deserves to be allowed to do their jobs in a safe and secure environment - but we are increasingly hearing about bullying in the workplace and there are concerns that traditional disciplinary channels are not tackling the issue.

"If people feel they are being harassed or victimised, and that not enough is being done to prevent it or to resolve the issue, then I strongly urge them to seek help from the Community Legal Advice service."

People worried about bullying in the workplace can reach the Community Legal Advice service on 0845 345 4 345.