Harassment, bullying and abuse

A number of reports suggest that bullying and harassment is rife in many UK workplaces and is disproportionately experienced by BAME workers. The Business in the Community research revealed, for example, that 28% of BAME workers had experienced or witnessed racial harassment or bullying from managers in the past five years, compared with 17% of their white counterparts. In addition, 32% of BAME workers had experienced or witnessed racial harassment from colleagues.

Studies in individual sectors have also revealed problems. A survey by the UCU university and college union found that 71% of BAME union members in post-16 education had “often” or “sometimes” been subject to bullying and harassment from managers.

And the NHS workforce race equality standard survey of all NHS Trusts (see above) found that BAME workers in the NHS suffer higher levels of bullying from the public and other staff than their white counterparts. In one trust, 44% of BAME staff compared to 24% of white staff had experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from patients, their relatives or the public.