Last
updated: 29 June 2009
Bullying
at Work. Investigations. Redundancy. Bullying & Harassment Investigations.
Workplace Investigations. Grievance. Disciplinary. Discrimination.
Dismissal. Suspension. Mediation. Abuse in the Workplace. Stress.
Work related stress. Downsizing. Change Management. ACAS Code of
Practice.
BULLYING
IS DISCRIMINATION
BULLYING
DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE
...
any one of us may be targeted
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We
specialise in Bullying issues at work and in the playground. In
particular we address Bullying at Work, Investigations, Redundancy,
Bullying & Harassment Investigations and discrimination of all
sorts. Bullying appears to be on the increase. Much of our focus
at this time is on the subject of Redundancies, Dismissals, Bullying
& Harassment, Grievance and Disciplinary Investigations and
mediation in the workplace. See our Kids section in respect of playground
bullying. We are a Charity set up to help eradicate Bullying in
the Workplace and the Playground. Don't struggle, whether you are
the bully or the bullied, we can help you, so take advantage of
our FREE documentation and consultation. Whether
you are an employer or an employee, this documentation is invaluable.
To download our
FREE
Step By Step Guide
- see below. It's easy to download! Just click the button and follow
the instructions. Wait for the document to download before you exit.
To download The
Complete Guide to Dispute Resolution - see below and click:
'add to cart'. It's easy to download! This document
will enable YOU to take any necessary action yourself. The document
contains sample Policies, sample Grievance and Disciplinary procedures,
sample letters (complaint, appeal and response letters), Employment
Legislation, Redundancy laws, dismissal laws and much more. These
documents are legally compliant, in accordance with The Employment
Act. See our employer and employee sections for further details.
DID YOU KNOW
- SICKNESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS RAMPANT
80%
of work related calls to The National Bullying Helpline are
from the public sector. Over half of those are from the
NHS. The remainder is from Council's, Emergency services and the
Education sector. In almost every case, absence due to wrok relates
stress is a major factor. A recent survey mirrors the position;
Council
Staff : Sickies cost us £4bn
a year. Council workers are taking nearly twice as many sick
days as private sector employeers. On average, each employee takes
13.5 sick days each year, compared with 7.9 days in the private
sector - according to a study conducted by Beneden Healthcare Society.
Only 9% of senior managers, it is alleged, regard absence through
sickness as a major issue. Costs could easily be cut by 20%
saving £800 million
a year of public money if councils did more to tackle absenteeism.
NHS Staff
: 474,673 members of staff in the NHS suffer with workplace
bullying related issues. 37% of staff reported that they had been
harassed, bullied or abused in the last 12 months. An average
sick day costs £69 per day in the public sector.
Victims take an average extra 7 days sick pa. due to bullying (Hoel
and Cooper). The total cost to the NHS over the last 12 months =
£229,267,059.
THE ACAS
CODE
The Code of Practice is now law.
Whenever a disciplinary or grievance process is being followed it
is important to deal with issues fairly. (See our Law Page for further
details).
• Employers and employees
should raise and deal with issues promptly and should not
unreasonably delay meetings, decisions or confirmation
of those decisions.
• Employers and employees should act consistently.
• Employers should carry out any necessary investigations
to establish the facts of the case.
• Employers should inform employees of the basis of
the problem and
• Employers should give the employee an opportunity
to put their case in response before any decisions are
made.
• Employers should allow employees to be accompanied
at any formal disciplinary or grievance meeting.
• Employers should allow an employee to appeal
against any formal decision made.
If you need an Employment
Law Solicitor, click on our page LAW.
IMPORTANT
NEW CASE LAW: Teachers and NHS Employees (ie: GP's and Consultants)
may now have a right to be accompanied by a Solicitor during internal
disciplinary hearings- if the outcome may lead to dismissal. See
Case Law. March 2009.
Poor
Conflict Management skills cost the UK £24 billion a year
in lost working days.
55% of the
workforce has had no training in managing conflict
-
If you are line managing - and struggle with
employee disputes, grievances, disciplinaries, redundancy
issues, staff conflict or any other people management issues
WE
CAN HELP - click here for more information
-
If you are an employee and bullying at work
is affecting you, or you have been suspended, disciplined, made
redundant, at risk of redundancy or feel you are being discriminated
against
WE
CAN HELP - click here for more information
WE
CAN HELP - click here for more information
-
Whether you are a child, teenager or adult,
whoever you are, whatever your role, if you need help because
you are struggling with bullying, harassment, victimisation,
discrimination, cyber bullying, internet bullying, stalking,
playground, community, domestic or any form of intimidation
/ bullying
WE
CAN HELP - click here for more information
INSTRUCTIONS
TO DOWNLOAD £10 COMPLETE GUIDE
See
'ADD TO CART' (on right). When downloading
documents follow instructions and wait to
allow PayPal to download the 30 page document to your PC.
It takes a little time !
National Bullying
Helpline (NBH) was established in 2002 and acquired Charity
status in 2007. NBH has traditionally been associated with
workplace bullying advising both employees and employers -
but recently extended its remit to cover all nature of bullying,
specifically playground bullying and bullying within neighborhoods
and local communities. This broad umbrella provides the perfect
platform for the charity to advise and speak on a variety
of issues and to become the instinctive 'port of call' for
those struggling with bullying issues. NBH works with the
media on issues which have a bullying element. Where confidentiality
is sought it is always given - unconditionally. NBH relies
on gifts and donations and operates with the support of Employers
and the Voluntary sector in Wiltshire.
The National Bullying Helpline
is the only Charity in the UK providing FREE
support in all corners of Society, whatever the nature of
the bullying (abuse, physical assault, discrimination,
wrongful dismissal, bullying at home or in the community,
hurtful remarks, bullying in schools - both in the playground
and the staff-room). We provide professional, timely,
support to those who need it. We specialize in Dispute Resolution,
Mediation, Facilitation, Law and Training and Development.
Our objective is to address conflict, stress, risk and costly
litigation. BERR wants to bring Employment Tribunal statistics
down - so do we. We promote excellence through research and
collaboration, supporting our Government, the CIPD, CMI and
leaders of workplace best practice standards. No one person
should feel 'inferior' due to the conduct of another. We passionately
commit to these fundamental concepts, stamping-out inappropriate
'Abuse of Power'. We will champion those whose personality
does not enable them to stand up to a bully. We will promote
organisation's who support this belief too, enabling us to
help the weaker person. We research innovative and improved
practices and methodologies and promote models of excellence
in industry and in education, at all levels, nationally. |
Employee?
Employer?
Sponsor?
for your FREE
copy of our
Step by Step Guide
Please tick whether you
are an Employee, Employer or are interested in Sponsoring.
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If you would like more comprehensive information
you can purchase 'The Complete Guide
to Dispute Resolution' at a cost of
£10. Please click on the button below
to pay.
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CONFLICT
20% of management time is spent
on conflict. 22% of staff work unproductively as a result of conflict.
50% of staff who take long term sickness, struggle with bullying
issues. How much lawyer/litigation and time do you spend on conflict?
How much time do your managers spend on conflict? What do stress
related illnesses cost your organisation? Which areas have most
conflict? What business has been lost to conflict? How are negative
behaviors being tackled? What reduces the effectiveness of dispute
resolution systems in your firm? What systems changes could help
reduce conflict? Mark Butler, People Management January 2009.
TRIBUNALS
The average cost to an employer
in defending a Tribunal claim is £15,000
to £20,000. Last
year there were 189,000 Tribunal applications
- up one third from 2006. During this period
the average compensation awards were; £7,974
for unfair dismissal, £14,049 for race
discrimination and £10,053 for sex discrimination.
Equal pay claims are the most financially crippling according
to Paul Lambdin of Stevens and Bolton. "They
can become very technical because often you are comparing apples
with pears". The same can be said for disability
discrimination cases, where frequently expert advice is sought
on whether an employer has made a reasonable adjustment to accommodate
an employee, as required by law. Personnel
Today and Messrs Stevens & Bolton. 23 September 2008
PUBLIC SECTOR
SICKNESS
Official figures show that workplace sickness
in the Department for Work and Pensions cost £65.8
million in 2007-8 bringing the total cost to the Public
Sector in the past three years to £228 million.
These figures show that, on average, each of the DWP's 114,000
staff took 10.1 sick days last year, nearly double the private
sector average of 5.8 days. Mail on Sunday August 2008
NBH IS INVOLVED
IN
National Programmes
such as National Ban Bullying week and public newsworthy events,
working closely with ACAS, the CIPD, CMI and our Government; BERR,
and with the BBC and GMTV newsdesk on case studies and press releases
Local Programmes
such as local competitions with Schools and Wiltshire Top 100 employers,
local and annual marathons and fun-runs, The Swindon Half Marathon,
local fund raising and Charity events.
TIM FIELD BULLYONLINE
The late Tim Field wrote bullyonline
and the Book Bully In Sight. These are Tim's words on the subject
of bullying.
Those who can, do. Those
who can't, bully.
Bully OnLine is the world's leading web site on workplace bullying
and related issues which validates the experience of workplace bullying
and provides confirmation, reassurance and re-empowerment.
Topics covered at Bully OnLine:
workplace bullying, mobbing, bullying at work, bullying help, bullying
advice, work abuse, workplace abuse, abuse in the workplace, workplace
violence, harassment at work, workplace harassment, discrimination
at work, stress at work, stress-related illness, law on stress,
emotional abuse.
If you're looking for information on bull mastiff dogs (bullies)
click www.bullyonline.com
Only the best are bullied
Half the population are bullied ... most only realise it when they
read this
See Bully OnLine, the web site of
the UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line and the world's leading
source of bullying help with extensive resources on workplace bullying
and related issues. Bully OnLine, where Tim Field shares his unique
insight into workplace bullying, gives you the knowledge to identify,
understand and tackle a common cause of stress, anxiety, waste,
inefficiency, dysfunction, ill health, cost, and litigation. Bully
OnLine also contains pages on harassment, workplace violence, family
bullying, domestic abuse, trauma, Complex PTSD, suicide, child bullying,
bullying in schools, child suicide, stalking, and other related
issues.
Bullying is the common denominator
of harassment, discrimination, prejudice, abuse, persecution, conflict
and violence. When the bullying has a focus (eg race or gender)
it is expressed as racial prejudice or harassment, or sexual discrimination
and harassment, and so on. Although bullying often lacks a focus,
bullies are deeply prejudiced but at the same time sufficiently
devious to not reveal their prejudices to the extent that they contravene
laws on harassment and discrimination.
Tim said; "I believe
bullying is the single most important social issue of today, for
the study of bullying provides an opportunity to understand the
behaviours which underlie almost all conflict and violence".
Most of the information on Tim's
website (bullyonline) is derived from experience of dealing with
bullying in the workplace, however, much applies to bullying in
schools, in relationships (eg domestic violence and family bullying),
in uniform (armed services, police, prisons etc), in crime, with
neighbours, and in abuse of the elderly.
THANK YOU
TO OUR SPONSORS & VOLUNTEERS
Infotec. Hinton Newport. HR
& Diversity Management Limited. Sainsbury's Stratton. Zurich.
Masterclass. NASUWT. Thomson Directories. Morgan Crucible.
Charles Lucas & Marshall Solicitors, Monahan's, BBC Wiltshire
Sound, GWR, Brunel FM & Swindon 105.5 FM Community Radio and
VAS Swindon.
We are still looking to work with
a National Sponsor. Could that be your organisation?
Thanks
for this, have just spent an enjoyable hour reading it! Fantastic
job, you have managed to impart clarity into the veritable "forest"
of paper. Your conclusions and recommendations are in my view absolutely
accurate, and highlight the real need for management training. Best
wishes and thanks for all your support. Satisfied
Corporate Employer on receipt of an Investigation Report. May 2006.
ORGANISATIONS
WE HAVE WORKED WITH INCLUDE
ACAS, ACCORD, AMICUS,
ASDA, UNISON, TUC, The Army, BT, Capita, CMI, CIPD, DfES, DLA, FSB,
IiP, The Home Office, Welsh Assembly, British Airways, Durham County
Council, DAWN, Cathedral School of St Mary's Plymouth, Dorset NHS,
LEA's (nationally), The Children's Society, GTC, Great Western Hospital,
HSE, The NHS (nationally), NASUWT, Nationwide, Royal Mail, The Fire
Service, CEMEX Plc, Laura Ashley, Women's Aid, The Prison Service,
Essex County Fire and Rescue, Great Western Hospital, Masterclass,
The NHS Mental Health SW1, Nationwide, Nottingham Play Forum, Swindon
Borough Council, Central Swindon Medical Centre, Oxford Brookes
University, University of Lancashire, University of Portsmouth,
Convergys Europe, APEX, Cadbury's, Laden Pre-School, Merton Timber
Wales, Barnett, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, Tesco,
Thomson's Local, Somerfield, Cricklade Town Council, ASDA, Once
Upon a Time Day Nursery, Personnel Today, Somerfield, Sainsbury's,
Wiltshire Sound, Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority, Motorola,
Honda, Energis, Danesfield House Hotel and Spa, Grenville Technology,
Zurich Finance, W H Smith, Rowan Foods Wrexham, Bruce Stephenson
Limited, Hammersmith Primary Trust, Sara Shoemark Beauty Salon,
NHS Oxford, OXFAM, YMCA, Three County Police Constabularies, The
Samaritans, Virgin Mobile ....and much more.
If you have
found this site useful please help others to find it too by linking
using http://www.nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk
USEFUL CONTACTS
and LINKS
ACAS
www.cac.gov.uk - Determinations of the Central Arbitration Committee.
www.acas.org.uk
Antibullyingnetwork
www.antibullying.net
BBC Schools
www.bbc.co.uk/schools
Business Link
www.businesslink.gov.uk
Bullybusters
www.bullybusters.org.uk
Beat Bullying www.beatbullying.co.uk
Connexions Direct –
to help you make decisions
www.connexions-direct.com
Criminal Records Bureau
www.crb.gov.uk
CIPD (Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development)
Telephone 020 8612 6200
www.cipd.co.uk
CMI (Chartered Management
Institute)
Telephone 020 7497 0580 (London Registered Office)
enquiries@managers.org.uk
Data Protection & ICO
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
DFES (Department
for Education)
www.dcsf.gov.uk
www.dfes.gov.uk
DDA Discrimination -
Age
www.agepositive.gov.uk Part of the Department
of Work & Pension’s website – containing
information on age discrimination with a link to the Code of Practice
Discrimination - Disability
www.drc-gb.org - The Disability Rights Commission’s website.
Includes links to legislation, information and advice.
www.disability.gov.uk - Government website with information on disability
rights and available benefits.
Discrimination - General
www.equalitydirect.org.uk - Government sponsored website for business
on discrimination issues.
Discrimination - Race
www.cre.gov.uk - The Commission for Racial Equality’s website.
Discrimination - Sex
www.eoc.org.uk - The Equal Opportunities Commission’s website.
www.eoc-law.org.uk - The Equal Opportunities Commission’s
website for legal advisers.
www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk - Government website for promoting
and realising the benefits of diversity in the economy and more
widely.
Emplaw
www.emplaw.co.uk
Employment Tribunal
www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk - The Employment Tribunal’s
website.
www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk/publications.asp - Employment Tribunal
forms.
www.employmentappeals.gov.uk - The Employment Appeal Tribunal’s
website.
www.ets.gov.uk/home.htm - Employment Tribunal Services Homepage.
www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk - Court Service’s website
www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldjudgmt/ldjudgmt.htm
- House of Lords’ judgments.
Government Websites
www.dti.gov.uk/er/hot_topics.htm - DTI Hot Topics website.
www.dti.gov.uk/er/index.htm - DTI Employment Relations.
www.dti.gov.uk/publications/ - DTI Publications List.
www.opsi.gov.uk - Office of Public Sector Information.
www.dwp.gov.uk - Department for Work and Pensions.
www.dfes.gov.uk/index.htm - The Department for Education and Skill’s
website.
www.parliament.uk - Parliament’s website.
www.homeoffice.gov.uk - Home Office website – to find publications
search under the A-Z menu at the top of the screen.
Health &
Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk - The Health and Safety Executive’s website.
www.hse.gov.uk/stress - What the HSE is doing to address the issue
of stress at work, and provide access to a range of information,
resources and further points of contact.
Immigration
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk - The Immigration & Nationality Directorate
are responsible for Immigration control, including applications
for permission to stay, citizenship and asylum.
Kidscape
www.kidscape.org.uk
Maternity and Family Leave
Rights
www.dti.gov.uk/er/workingparents.htm - The DTI’s Working Parents
section.
www.dti.gov.uk/er/maternity.htm - The DTI’s Maternity section.
www.dti.gov.uk/er/paternity.htm - The DTI’s Paternity section.
www.dti.gov.uk/er/parental.htm - The DTI’s Guidance for Parental
Leave.
www.tiger.gov.uk - DTI Interactive user-friendly guide to employment
rights.
Pensions
www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk - The Pensions Regulator.
Redundancy
www.dti.gov.uk/er/redundancy.htm - The DTI’s Redundancy section.
Tax & NIC
www.hmrc.gov.uk - HM Revenue & Customs website.
Unfair Dismissal
www.dti.gov.uk/er/individual/unfair-pl712.htm - The DTI’s
Unfair Dismissal section.
Whizz Kidz
info@whizz-kidz.org.uk
birmingham@whizz-kidz.org.uk
newcastle@whizz-kidz.org.uk
Working Time Directive
www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/wtr0.htm - The DTI’s section
on the Working Time Regulations.
Childline Childline 0800 1111
The NSPCC : 0808 800 5000
Victim Support : 01380
729476
Barnardo's : 01225 751261
Women's Aid National
Helpline : 0808 200 0247
Samaritans : 0845 790 9090
Police Domestic Violence
Liaison Officer : North & West Wilts. 01249 449766
CONFLICT
OF INTEREST
Since its inauguration this
helpline has been funded by HR & Diversity Management Limited,
an HR consultancy established by Christine and David Pratt,
who also founded this helpline (Charity). The Consultancy does
not profit from the helpline - quite the contrary! The Consultancy
funds the helpline entirely. This is not a Government funded
helpline. The processes between the Consultancy and the Charity
are open and transparent and were vetted and approved by both
Companies House and The Charities Commission when the Charity
was founded. Furthermore, the Charity works closely with a number
of Lexel Accredited Employment Law Solicitors who have also
audited and approved processes in compliance with Law Society
Regulations. Governing bodies and Associate Partners are satisfied
that there is no conflict of interest as the relationship between
the two operations are transparent and lawful. If you are concerned
about conflict of interest, or do not understand the term, please
contact our Trustees. There is a complaints procedure on this
website. Write in with any concerns and our Trustee's will always
respond.
We are not a Samaritans look
alike. We help people in distress in a practical, positive,
timely, way and in some cases we will put callers in touch with
professional service providers ; (solicitors, investigators,
mediators etc). Where a fee changes hands this is declared up
front. Everyone who calls the helpline is given 'open and transparent'
choice - and advice and guidance to enable them to ascertain
and understand both their legal options and/or statutory obligations.
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