Bullying and harassment continue to be significant workplace issues, with the Trades Union Congress reporting nearly one-third of people have been bullied at work. Hybrid working has added challenges to managing and supporting teams.

A recent webinar explored:

  • Identifying bullying behaviours, from overt name-calling to covert undermining.
  • Understanding root causes such as lack of emotional intelligence, insecurity, and inadequate training.
  • Creating a ‘speak up’ culture with safe reporting channels and leadership role-modelling.
  • Legal protections under the Equality Act and employer defence strategies.
  • Supporting affected employees through therapy, adjustments, and check-ins.
  • Addressing bullying by senior leaders with external investigators.

Identifying Bullying and Harassment

Harassment tied to protected characteristics violates the Equality Act. Bullying can be overt or covert, including passive-aggressive behaviours.

Root Causes

Common factors: lack of self-awareness, insecurity, and inadequate management training. Managers need support to adapt communication and handle conflict.

Creating a Speak-Up Culture

Employees fear repercussions. Leaders must model inclusive behaviour, communicate policies, offer multiple reporting channels, and use surveys to surface issues.

Legal Protections for Employers

Under the Equality Act, employers can be liable for harassment tied to protected characteristics unless they demonstrate all reasonable steps were taken to prevent it.

Supporting Affected Employees

Offer therapy or coaching, adjust work arrangements, and conduct regular check-ins to help rebuild confidence and resilience.

Tackling Bullying at the Top

Bullies in senior roles require proactive governance and impartial investigations to ensure fairness.

The Way Forward

A holistic approach—equipping managers, empowering employees, implementing robust procedures, and supporting victims—builds a respectful, psychologically safe culture.

Watch the full webinar on demand.

✉️ Want more? Explore the Mental Health & Wellbeing library.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered workplace bullying and harassment?

Unwanted conduct such as verbal abuse, intimidation, exclusion, and offensive remarks. Harassment related to a protected characteristic is illegal under the Equality Act 2010.

How can employers prevent bullying?

Implement clear anti-bullying policies, provide training, promote respect, and offer multiple reporting channels. Regular surveys help catch issues early.

What are the legal risks?

Employers face liability under the Equality Act if they fail to prevent harassment tied to protected characteristics and cannot show reasonable preventative steps.

How should managers support victims?

Listen, provide access to mental health services, adjust work where needed, and handle investigations fairly in a safe environment.

What are common signs?

Employees being undermined or excluded, increased conflicts, changes in mood or productivity, and passive-aggressive behaviours.

A grandfather died after falling through a hole in his bathroom left by workers.

Kenneth Armitage, 81, fell through an unguarded hole created during a wet room conversion by Cooper and Westgate. He was found dead the next evening.

HSE found the company failed to secure the hole, train employees, and undertake a risk assessment or method statement.

Cooper and Westgate Co. Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay £50,000 in costs.

Inspector Yolande Burns-Sleightholme warned that employers must assess and control work-at-height risks, secure holes effectively, and train employees to prevent such tragedies.

In February 2024, Marlowe plc agreed to sell Barbour EHS, William Martin, Elogs, and Prosure360 to Inflexion after regulatory approval.

For customers of Barbour EHS, everything remains the same: services, contracts, and points of contact.

With Inflexion’s backing, the company will continue investing in its software platforms and client service. Teresa Dier, Managing Director, and Beatriz Shorrock, CEO of SRC Group, reaffirmed plans to accelerate growth and deliver best-in-class products and services.

If you have questions, email enquiries@barbour-ehs.com.

A car wash firm in Devon has been fined £40,000 after failing to protect workers and members of the public from electrical safety risks.

HSE visited Best Car Wash Ltd in Tavistock between July 2021 and November 2022. Workers used pressure washers and vacuum cleaners outdoors without a safe electrical installation, leading to five enforcement notices that went unheeded until April 2023.

The company finally had a competent person inspect, test, and repair the installation. HSE found that the failure to comply prolonged electrical hazards for vulnerable workers.

Best Car Wash Ltd pleaded guilty in absentia to breaching the Electricity at Work Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £40,000 with £3,164 in costs on 6 June 2024.

Inspector Helena Allum said HSE will prosecute companies that fail to comply with enforcement notices and reminded employers of their duty to ensure safe working methods.

A construction company has been fined following the death of a worker who drowned in the River Aire.

Gary Webster lost his life after their debris-removal boat capsized at Knostrop Weir on 30 October 2017. The weir gates were not controlled, leaving the boat in turbulent water. Webster was recovered 14 minutes later and died in hospital on 1 November 2017.

HSE found BAM Nuttall Ltd failed to plan the work, assess risks, or use trained operatives to control weir gates, which would have slowed the water flow and prevented the accident.

BAM Nuttall Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £2.345 million and ordered to pay £25,770.48 in costs.

Inspector Jayne Towey said the tragedy could have been avoided with proper risk assessment and safe working practices.

The long-term health of workers at a wood waste recycling centre was put in danger by excessive dust exposure, HSE found.

Esken Renewables Ltd processed mixed wood waste into biofuel in Middlesbrough. Wood dust can cause asthma and nasal cancer; softwood is an asthmagen, hardwood a carcinogen.

An HSE inspection in April 2022 followed reports of dust spreading to surrounding areas. The company failed to minimise wood dust emissions through enclosure, local exhaust ventilation, or vacuum cleaning, putting employees at risk.

Esken Renewables pleaded guilty to breaching COSHH Regulations by failing to control exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and was fined £160,000 with £5,310.35 in costs on 23 May 2024.

A North Yorkshire man has received a suspended prison sentence for illegally depositing waste on the River Swale flood plain.

In 2017–2018, Phillip Taylor transported over 2,400 tonnes of excavation waste to the Catterick Complex without authorization, forming unauthorised flood defences for fishing lakes.

The downstream village of Catterick had benefited from a £6 million flood alleviation scheme. The EA regulates works near main rivers to prevent increased flood risk and habitat damage.

Taylor pleaded guilty to illegal waste activity and flood-risk works. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison (suspended for 12 months), ordered to remove the waste, pay £9,500 in costs, and a £115 victim surcharge. He had refused EA removal orders. The haulier was previously required to donate £30,000 under an Enforcement Undertaking.

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