Minister of State for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen has said that bullying in the workplace is a major problem.
Speaking at the launch of a new code of practice on the prevention and resolution of bullying at work, the Minister said a recent Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report indicated about 8 per cent of workers were affected.
Mr Killeen said employers were obliged under legislation to manage work activities to prevent any improper conduct or behaviour likely to put at risk an employee's health, safety or welfare.
The new code of practice, drawn up by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), sets out what bullying means and highlights the responsibilities of both employers and employees in preventing it. The code proposes procedures to be followed to deal with a bullying complaint.
It also says that if a complaint is not resolved internally, those involved can access the services of a rights commissioner.
The code defines bullying in the workplace as "repeated inappropriate behaviour, direct or indirect, whether verbal, physical or otherwise, conducted by one of more persons against another or others, at the place of work and/or in the course of employment which could reasonably be regarded as undermining the individual's right to dignity at work".
It says "an isolated incident of the behaviour described in this definition may be an affront to dignity at work but is not considered to be bullying".
The code describes examples of bullying: verbal abuse, insults, physical abuse, exclusion with negative consequences, being treated less favourably than colleagues, intrusion (pestering, spying or stalking), menacing behaviour, intimidation, aggression, undermining behaviour, excessive monitoring, humiliation, withholding work-related information, blaming a person for things beyond their control and repeatedly manipulating a person's job content and targets.
Mr Killeen said many people believed bullying occurred only between a superior and a subordinate but that the reverse was also true on occasion. Acting chief executive of the HSA Michael Henry said the best way to tackle bullying was for firms to implement a rigorous policy and that the new code made this possible.
