Bullying and harassment

Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect at work.  Bullying or harassment of any kind should not be tolerated.

It is generally recommended that organisations have a procedure for dealing with incidences of bullying and harassment which is separate from their disciplinary and grievance procedures.  The policy and procedure adopted should be relevant and sufficient for the organisation.  It should recognise that there is a difference between harassment and bullying.

However, many organisations have a ‘Dignity at Work’ policy which covers both bullying and harassment and it will be the behaviour of the offending individual that determines which category it falls under.

If you feel you have been bullied or suffered harassment, or if as an employer you would like to see a model harassment procedure, check out Harassment & Bullying in the Workplace - a joint guide by the Labour Relations Agency & the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Last updated: 22 June 2022