August 12 2002 - The UK workplace is increasingly becoming a zero tolerance
zone for bullies according to research published today by The Work Foundation
(formerly The Industrial Society).
The report - Employee Codes of Conduct - shows that 8
out of 10 responding organizations have adopted codes of conduct on bullying
and harassment. Such codes are relatively new initiatives in UK workplaces, but
it seems they are taken seriously: one third of respondents said that workers breaking
the code would be sacked. A mere 6% would give an informal warning.
One third (32%) of respondents also considered codes on bullying to be a
priority for a well-run workplace, together with work safety (41%) and
corporate confidentiality (33%).
The survey was based on a total of 277 questionnaires from HR and
personnel specialists in October 2001. The report also contains best practice case studies.
Angela Ishmael, head of Dignity at Work at The Work Foundation recently gave
evidence on workplace bullying at a House of Lords seminar on The Dignity at
Work Bill. She says:
"Not so long ago bullying was seen by many organisations as little more than
a challenging and forceful work style. It is good to see that the tide is
turning, and that employers are more committed to creating work environments
where employees no longer need to work in fear.
"Codes of conduct are a useful litmus test of the quality of management. To
make the UK workplace a genuinely bully free zone, such initiatives need
backing from the top, supportive colleagues, managers who will help people
to raise their concerns, and a responsible work culture which tackles the
causes and consequences of bullying and harassment before individuals are
victimised and jobs are lost."
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Bibliography and Amazon.co.uk
by Angela Ishmael
by Ruth Wheatley
by Tim Field
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Employee Relations
