NLJ this week: Time to legislate against workplace bullying

Beale highlights that, while recent changes in the law have obliged employers to take a proactive approach to prevention of sexual harassment, gaps in the law remain in terms of bullying. Legislating to create a legal definition, as proposed by the Bullying and Respect at Work Bill which is currently paused, would help tackle toxic workplace cultures where bullying sometimes flourishes.

He writes: ‘Regrettably, the inappropriate normalisation of uncivil behaviour in the workplace often leads to its dismissal as mere “banter”, significantly minimising its severity. The short and long-term psychological consequences for victims are frequently overlooked or trivialised.’