Harassment at Work Solicitors
Employers are responsible for preventing bullying and harassment at work, but if your employer has failed in their duty to protect you, you may be able to make a claim.
If you have been bullied or harassed at work, our employment lawyers can advise you on your rights, from helping you to navigate the grievance process through to making a discrimination claim. For an initial chat with a member of our Employment Law team, call 0117 325 2929 or fill out our online enquiry form.
What is harassment at work?
Harassment is unwanted conduct that has the purpose of intimidating, humiliating, violating or offending another person. Workplace harassment can be verbal or non-verbal and can happen face-to-face or online.
With more people working remotely or in a hybrid way and using digital technology to communicate, the line between personal and professional communication is becoming more and more blurred. As a result, employers are facing new challenges with claims of cyberbullying and online harassment.
What counts as harassment?
Under the Equality Act 2010, there are three types of harassment:
1. Harassment related to ‘protected characteristics’
- Disability harassment
- Racial harassment
- Gender identity harassment (may include slurs or making distasteful references)
- Ageism
- Religious or belief harassment
- Sexual orientation harassment
2. Sexual harassment
3. Less favourable treatment as a result of harassment
Harassment and bullying are often confused. Bullying behaviour can be harassment, but not always.
A person can be protected by the Equality Act even if:
- They do not have a certain protected characteristic, but it is thought they do;
- They have a connection with someone with a certain protected characteristic; or
- If they witness harassment.
Common types of harassment at work
Some common examples of workplace harassment include:
- Sexual harassment, e.g. unwanted touching or gestures, and sexual jokes or questions.
- Discriminatory harassment.
- Physical harassment.
- Verbal harassment.
- Online harassment/cyberbullying.
- Psychological harassment, e.g. gaslighting and belittling.
- Retaliation or revenge: this usually happens when the ‘harasser’ seeks revenge after someone reports workplace harassment, or they rebuff the previous harassment, e.g. sexual advances.
- Third-party harassment (when someone outside the organisation, e.g. a supplier or customer, carries out harassing behaviour).
These are just some examples of harassment at work. Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, there are other types of harassment which are separate from those under the Equality Act 2010. If you believe you have been harassed at work and it falls under one of the types of harassment under the Equality Act, our employment solicitors can help. Contact us today.
Can I claim for harassment at work?
If you have experienced bullying or harassment at work, our solicitors may be able to help you make a claim. We can help if you have raised an issue with your employer and they have not taken the appropriate action to resolve the matter. In this situation, our employment solicitors can support you through the grievance process and represent you at an employment tribunal if the matter cannot be resolved.
If you have had to leave your job because you have been harassed or bullied at work, our team can help you make a claim for harassment, unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, and/or discrimination.
Call our team on 0117 325 2929 to see how we can help. Alternatively, you can fill in this form, and we will get back to you.
Our expertise in harassment at work claims
Our specialist solicitors support employees across the UK from our offices in Bristol and the surrounding area, in Bedminster, Bishopston, Bristol city centre, Kingswood and Thornbury.
We have a wealth of experience in workplace harassment claims, as well as a broad range of other employment-related matters, such as redundancy, unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, wrongful dismissal, whistleblowing and settlement agreements.
Our friendly team offers common-sense advice tailored to you, and we take the time to listen to your experience. Our priority is to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
If your claim cannot be dealt with via a grievance procedure or with mediation, our employment solicitors can support you at an employment tribunal.
Harassment at work FAQs
If you think you have been bullied or harassed at work, you should raise it with your employer. This could be to your manager in the first instance, or HR.
Your employer is likely to have their own grievance procedure, which you and they should follow. If they do not, Acas provides a Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievances which sets out basic practical guidance to employers, employees and their representatives. It sets out the principles for handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace.
Your employer must take any complaint seriously and look into it as soon as possible, under a full and fair procedure.
Anyone can report bullying or harassment at work, even if it’s not directed at them, for example, a co-worker.
It is often difficult to prove harassment as it often happens out of sight of people; however, keeping a record of what happened is vital.
Specific details like the date, the people involved, what happened and how the act of harassment affected you are helpful to build a case.
If you can secure witness evidence, that is very useful.
Also, any letters, emails or evidence on social media can assist a case against your employer.
You should also make sure your employer has done everything they are supposed to do, so it is important you obtain copies of your contract and any relevant internal policies.
There is no legal definition of bullying, but it is usually considered to be unwanted behaviour that deliberately belittles, manipulates, intimidates or undermines an individual. It can involve an abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone.
In the same way as harassment, it can take many forms and can be a regular pattern of behaviour or a one-off incident.
An employee may be protected under a range of workplace laws, such as the Equality Act 2010, the Employment Rights Act 1996, and as part of claims for breach of an express or implied term of the employment contract.
Contact us about making a workplace harassment claim
If you have been bullied or harassed at work and are unhappy with how your employer has dealt with it, we can help.
To speak to a member of our Employment Law team, call us on 0117 325 2929 or fill out this form, and we will be in touch.