Rehabilitation

If bullying or harassment at work leads to ill health and sickness, a period of rehabilitation may be required. It is also important to ensure that the return to work is properly managed. Research has shown that it can take months or in some cases even years to recover from the effects of bullying. Sometimes training can also be offered to the victim of bullying (see Chapter 1). In its guidance on work-related stress, the GMB general union says that employers should consider providing the following for people returning to work after a stress-related illness:

• suitable support, such as occupational health and/or counsellors;

• return on reduced hours and graduated increase in hours;

• adjustment of workload; and

• the possibility of a job change.