Workplace bullying described as 'cancer in society'

Workplace bullying is a cancer in society which is leading to suicide and marriage break-ups.

Workplace bullying is a cancer in society which is leading to suicide and marriage break-ups.

A recent advisory group found that some 140,000 employees experience bullying in the workplace every day, according to an expert.

Behavioural psychologist Dr Mark Harrold, who is organising a conference on the issue, said it was a cancer in society.

"Families are losing loved ones through suicide from it and marriages are breaking up. It's a phenomenon that everyone knows about but nobody seems to know what to do about it. We literally now have to tackle the menace because it's of epidemic proportions."

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The conference will be held in Dublin on October 4th, and will include presentations on the psychological, medical and legal issues involved in work bullying.

Dr Harrold said he believed workplace bullying was a symptom of the new economic prosperity.

"People are becoming disposable and are just tossed aside by whatever means - environmental push, tap on the shoulder you name it - without regard for the impact on the individual."

Around 70 per cent of bullied employees leave their job rather than confront the problem.

Jacinta Kitt, who will be a keynote speaker at the conference, said companies needed to create an environment where bullying was unacceptable.

More information on the conference is at www.bravo.ie/workplacebullying