According to the Belfast Telegraph, there is no singular piece of legislation that specifically defines and outlaws bullying at work.
Consequently, the newspaper stated it is not possible to bring a direct complaint to an industrial tribunal about bullying. Bullying and harassment are often terms used interchangeably – and there are pieces of legislation that outlaw harassment on certain grounds.
In every employment contract it is implied every staff member has the right to work in a healthy and safe working environment – and this means one that is free from discrimination, harassment and bullying.
According to Lyn Witheridge, chief executive of The Andrea Adams Trust, organisations have to "raise awareness in their workplace of what bullying really is".
"Managers need to be trained and key people – like harassment advisers and investigators – have got to be put in place," she added.
Ms Witheridge claimed everyone wants to go to work, but they do not want to go to be beaten up – physically or psychologically.
