Who are the bullies?

Usdaw says that bullying is often, but not always, carried out by people in a more senior position.

Prospect also says harassment and bullying are most often exercised by people in positions of power, such as supervisors or managers, who abuse their authority and impose their conduct upon others as a means of control. However, colleagues of equal status may be involved in bullying and harassment because of cultural differences, for example, or because they are men assuming a higher status over women. This behaviour can also be used to humiliate and undermine the authority of a person of higher rank within the organisation.

“Bullies can be from any background, be of any race or gender, and of any grade, so it is not helpful to draw up a stereotype or profile of the bully,” says PCS. Being able to identify some examples of bullying behaviour may help reps and members to recognise when bullying is happening (see pages 5-8).

Usdaw and Prospect both point out that employees may also suffer harassment from members of the public or customers with whom they are in contact in the course of their work and it is important that an employer’s harassment policy covers this situation.