Workplace bullying and harassment can have significant legal, financial, and reputational implications for UK businesses. Employers have a duty to prevent such behaviour and to provide a safe, respectful working environment.

Definition of Workplace Bullying and Harassment

Bullying: Offensive, intimidating, malicious, or insulting behaviour that undermines, humiliates, or threatens an employee. It is often persistent but can also be a single serious incident.

Harassment: Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic (Equality Act 2010) that creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. Protected characteristics include age, sex, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

Bullying and Harassment in the workplace: Latest Findings

Recent findings from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have brought to light the disturbing reality of bullying and harassment in the workplace. According to the UKRI’s 2024 Annual People Survey, 1 in 8 staff at UKRI have witnessed bullying, while 1 in 14 have experienced it themselves. This revelation underscores the prevalence of harmful behaviours that can affect employee wellbeing, morale and productivity.

As the survey results show, many individuals who have faced bullying or harassment feel disempowered to report the incidents due to concerns about retaliation or a lack of faith in organisational responses. Alarmingly, according to the UKRI’s 2024 Annual People Survey, only 54% of those who experienced bullying took the step to report it, with many fearing career repercussions. This highlights a critical gap in the workplace culture and the need for safe, anonymous and effective systems to address such issues.

Recent Legislative Updates

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which received royal assent on 26 October 2023 and came into force on 26 October 2024, mandates that employers take "reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. This proactive duty requires businesses to implement measures that deter such misconduct before it occurs.

Additionally, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has intensified its focus on non-financial misconduct, including harassment and bullying. The FCA's recent investigations and forthcoming guidelines emphasize the importance of addressing these behaviours to foster a positive workplace culture.

What does this all mean for businesses?

For any organisation, maintaining a positive, supportive work environment is crucial not just for employee wellbeing but for overall performance. With a growing need for solutions to manage and resolve workplace bullying and harassment, the role of technology in fostering a safer, more respectful workplace is more important than ever. It can help to prevent the following:

Legal Action: Employees can take cases to Employment Tribunals, leading to costly claims;

Financial Costs: Compensation for discrimination claims can be unlimited, and businesses may face fines, legal fees, and reputational damage;

Employee Turnover & Productivity Loss: A toxic workplace increases absenteeism, stress-related illness, and resignations;

Reputational Damage: Poor handling of harassment cases can damage employer branding and attract negative media attention;

What UK Businesses Should Do?

✔ Develop Clear Policies: Implement robust anti-bullying and harassment policies in line with ACAS guidelines;
✔ Train Employees & Managers: Provide regular training on appropriate workplace behaviour and legal obligations;
✔ Encourage Reporting & Support: Establish clear reporting procedures and offer confidential support;
✔ Take Action Against Offenders: Investigate complaints thoroughly and take disciplinary action where necessary;
✔ Monitor & Review: Regularly assess workplace culture through employee feedback and HR audits;

How can imabi Pro (a comprehensive solution) help?

For businesses looking to enhance their approach to workplace safety, imabi Pro provides safeguarding solutions to prevent bullying and harassment. Through reporting tools, awareness training, and policy guidance, it helps organisations foster a safer and more inclusive work environment.

At imabi, we understand the profound impact that workplace harassment can have on employees and the organisation as a whole. That’s why we’ve designed imabi Pro to support companies in proactively addressing bullying and harassment in the workplace by allowing employees to report incidents securely and anonymously, while also providing access to support resources and staff consultations.

imabi Pro offers practical business solutions that are designed to help employers engage, protect and support their staff. Providing a platform for employees to voice concerns and access support promptly, imabi Pro reinforces a safe and supportive working environment by helping your business to stay compliant and protect employees in the following ways:

Confidential Reporting: imabi Pro allows employees to report incidents of bullying and harassment anonymously, providing a secure and confidential way to highlight concerns without fear of retaliation;
Support Resources: imabi Pro allows employees to easily access information such as helplines, counselling services and other useful resources to assist employees who have experienced bullying or harassment, helping them find the support they need;
Employee Engagement: imabi Pro facilitates staff consultations and surveys, enabling organisations to gather real-time feedback on workplace culture and pinpoint areas that need attention, allowing leadership to respond swiftly and appropriately;
Culture of Respect: With imabi Pro, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to tackling workplace issues by ensuring employees feel heard, supported and empowered to take action;
Actionable Data Analytics: imabi Pro’s in-app data offers valuable insights that help gain a clearer understanding of what's happening in the workplace, empowering to drive meaningful change and foster a positive environment;
Compliance Assistance: imabi Pro helps employers align with legal requirements by offering tools and guidance to prevent workplace harassment;

Find out more how imabi Pro can help businesses maintain compliance and support in creating a safer workplace.

Lastly...

The recent survey results from UKRI emphasise that bullying and harassment are ongoing challenges that cannot be ignored. By adopting tools like imabi Pro, organisations can begin to make meaningful strides toward cultivating a culture of respect and wellbeing.

In a time when trust in reporting mechanisms is critical, ensuring employees feel safe and supported is a priority. If you're looking to create a safer, more supportive workplace for your employees, imabi Pro can help you take that first step.

By integrating solutions like imabi Pro, UK businesses can foster a safer, more respectful work environment, ensuring compliance with evolving employment laws and enhancing overall organisational health.

If you’d like to find out more about imabi, and how it can help you or your organisation, get in touch with one of our team.