Unite the Union exposes the cost of workplace bullying
28 July 2008
The world's biggest anti-bullying project today reveals that
employers' failure to tackle the root causes of bullying in the
workplace is costing the UK economy £13.75 billion a year.
The project also reveals that Black, Minority and Ethnic (BME)
workers are more likely to be targets of workplace bullying and
harassment than other workers and are less likely to have a support
network to help them through the experience. The report ‘BME
Employee Experiences of Workplace Bullying is calling for better
monitoring on anti-bullying activities, including a focus on the
experiences of BME workers and the building of BME support
structures involving colleagues, managers, and unions.
Cath Speight, Unite acting head of equalities said:“ It is shocking
that Black and Minority Ethnic workers are more likely to be
targets of workplace bullying. Employers need to recognize that
there are specific issues concerning BME employees and take action
to stop this group of workers from being bullied.”
The reports main author, Dr Sabir Giga from the University of
Bradford said: “Bullying is impacting on
Black Minority Ethnic workers’ job satisfaction, promotion
opportunities and health. We are calling on employers to develop a
zero tolerance to bullying so that all workers are treated with
dignity and respect.”
The report ‘The Costs of Workplace Bullying’ estimates that in 2007
33.5m jobs were lost by UK organisations due to bullying related
absenteeism, almost 200,000 employees would have left their jobs
and the equivalent of 100m days productivity were lost as a result
of bullying.
Cath Speight, Unite acting head of equalities said: Employers can
no longer be in any doubt about the business case for tackling
bullying. As well as the devastating impact on individuals,
bullying has a negative impact on productivity as workers who
suffer from bullying and those who witness it, experience low
morale and are more likely to take time off or leave their
jobs.”
The Dignity at Work partnership project has also published its
‘Action Pack’ that offers solutions to employers and union
representatives in tackling bullying. The Dignity at Work
recommends that organisations adopt a zero tolerance approach to
bullying and wants employers to work with trade unions to eradicate
bullying. The project advocates a partnership approach when dealing
with bullying.
Baroness Ann Gibson, Chair of the Dignity at Work Project said: “As
a society we are paying too high a price for bullying. Workers that
experience bullying are more likely to go off sick or leave and
colleagues who witness bullying are also less lightly to stick
around. Employers that ignore bullying do so at huge
costs."
Notes to editors:
PDFs of: Dignity at Work: The Cost of Workplace
Bullying and Dignity at Work: Black and Minority Ethnic
Employee Experiences of Workplace Bullying are
attached as PDFs and the Dignity at Work Action
Pack is available on request. All are available in hard copy.
Contact bridget.clemson@unitetheunion.org
Dignity at work partnership is jointly funded by BERR
(previously the DTI) and Unite the union.
For more information contact: Unite press officer Liane Groves 0207
420 8937 M 07793 661 657
