Proposed Legislation aimed at Tackling Bullying at Work
- Employment Law
- 18th Jul 2023
Legislation that aims to make preventing bullying at work a stand-alone right has been proposed in Parliament for MPs to consider. The Bullying and Respect at Work Bill, tabled by Labour, seeks to strengthen workplace processes to assist in the reporting and investigating of incidents and introduce guidance on best practice regarding respectful work environments. […]
By Julie Sabba
MLP Law
Legislation that aims to make preventing bullying at work a stand-alone right has been proposed in Parliament for MPs to consider.
The Bullying and Respect at Work Bill, tabled by Labour, seeks to strengthen workplace processes to assist in the reporting and investigating of incidents and introduce guidance on best practice regarding respectful work environments. This will be done through a Respect at Work Code, to be enforced by the Human Rights Commission.
Not only does the Bill introduce a legal definition of bullying, it also intends to impose robust mechanisms in relation to:
- reporting incidents of bullying;
- Investigating claims of bullying; and
- Enforcing the outcome of any such investigation.
Currently, employees rely on protections offered by the Equality Act 2010 or the right to claim constructive dismissal, to legally challenge workplace bullying. The Bill is in its early stages and will be watched with interest, by staff and employers alike, as it progresses through the legislative process.
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