Bullying and Harrassment

On this page you will find information about bullying and harassment, how to identify it, and what to do if you experience it.

Definitions

• Bullying

  Bullying is unreasonable behaviour by one individual or group of individuals to another which makes the recipient feel upset, threatened, humiliated or vulnerable thereby undermining their self-confidence and potentially causing them to suffer stress.  Bullying is often derived from hierarchical power relationships or physical strength and can include offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, abuse of power or unfair sanctions. It may undermine a person’s ability to function and can leave them feeling hurt, frightened, angry or powerless. 

• Harassment

  Harassment is unwanted conduct, often related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating hostile, degrading, humiliating of offensive environment for that individual. 

  You are specifically protected from harassment because of your age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity status, race, ethnicity or nationality, religious belief or having no belief, sex (male or female) or your sexual orientation; in employment situations, in education, and when accessing public services including health care.

• Sexual Harassment

  Sexual Harassment is unwanted or unwelcome words, conduct, or behaviour of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for the recipient. It can include sexual jokes or comments both in person or online, via text or physical contact such as unwelcome sexual advances or touching. 

Policies for trainees experiencing Bullying and Harassment 

• Respect and Dignity at Work Policy (PDF)

This policy is the Lead Employer's anti-bullying and harassment policy and sets out how a trainee can raise a concern or a grievance.

You can raise a concern through our Resolving Workplace Issues form. 

• Domestic Abuse Policy

This policy sets out the process for raising a concern about Domestic Abuse situations, including those involving members of staff. Please also visit our Domestic Abuse Support page for more guidance and information. 

Reporting harrasment 

If you need to report harrasment and want to first speak to someone about this informally, please visit our Sexual Harrasment and Misconduct page for more details on who to speak to and which policies can support you in raising a concern.