Up to seven per cent of all employees and ten per cent of women experience some form of bullying in the workplace, according to new figures from IMPACT, the State’s second-largest trade union.
The President of the union, Ms Geraldine Maddock, said today she was concerned that only 15 per cent of the victims approached their union over the bullying. She called on employers to implement special workplace charters outlining options to employees.
Ms Maddock was speaking at the launch of a new set of guidelines Stand up to Bullyingat the union's health sector annual conference in Ennis, Co Clare.
This guide is designed to highlight employers’ legal obligations to prevent bullying under current health and safety legislation.
She said that bullying "can have serious health effects on a significant minority of workers", and called on unions and management to agree anti-bullying policies.