Bullying, bullying its way to the workplace

E110:06 7 November 2006

Supporting the National Ban Bullying at Work Day, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today reminded employers to step up procedures to tackle the growing problem of bullying in the workplace. Bullying costs employers 80 million working days and up to £2 billion in lost revenue every year. Nearly half a million people in Britain experience work-related stress at a level they believe is making them ill and the financial costs to society are estimated at £3.8 billion a year.

Bullying is a big contributor to work related stress that affects one in six people in Britain (source: The Psychosocial Working Conditions (PWC) survey). Bullying is a form of organisational violence and if not dealt with properly is a potential source of work-related stress (WRS) and can take many different forms, from actual physical violence and threats of violence - to name calling, sarcasm and teasing.

Chris Rowe, Head of HSE's Stress Priority Programme, said "National Ban Bullying at Work Day is an opportunity for employers to review whether they are doing enough to secure the well being of their employees and the effective performance of their business. HSE's Management Standards for Work-Related Stress represent a widely adopted, practical and usable approach to taking the necessary steps to manage stress and improve well-being in the workplace. It is important that we encourage dialogue between employers and employees and engage them in finding a way to manage this growing problem."

Psychology Professor Cary Cooper from Lancaster University, highlights his research on Workplace Bullying, "A large scale national research found that bullying doesn't just affect the people who experience it first hand, but the people who witness it too. It lowers morale in the office and in some cases can lead to an increase in time taken in days off work for stress-related problems. Moreover it can also impact on other areas of life including relationships and family life. Employers have tools available to address bullying in the workplace. HSE's Stress Management Standards can be implemented in the workplace to make a difference to Britain's 28 million strong workforce. "

HSE's Stress Management Standards apply to six aspects of work design that research has shown as potential stressors: -

• Control;
• Demands;
• Support;
• Relationships;
• Role, and
• Change.

The Relationships standard covers bullying. The Management Standards, guidance and comprehensive supporting toolkit are available, free of charge, from the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards

Ban Bullying at Work, the UK charity campaigning against workplace bullying has marked 7th November to raise awareness with Britain's 28.94 million workforce.

Notes to editors

1. The cost to the economy and the numbers of cases of stress in British workplaces is taken from the 2004/2005 Self reported Work-related Illness report. This can be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress/index.htm
2. More information on the stress management standards can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm
3. Information about HSE's wider health agenda can be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/plans/healthagenda.htm

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