Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward measures to tackle bulling and negative behaviours at work in the proposed Employment Bill.

Bullying and harassment are unacceptable and have no place in today’s workplace. The Government believes employees should be able to work without fear of encountering bullying from their employers, fellow employees or anyone else.

Current legislation provides robust safeguards for employees against harassment in the workplace. This covers harassment on the grounds of gender, race, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 make intentional harassment a criminal offence.

Employers can also establish good practices by, for example having a clear anti-harassment policy and ensuring staff receive training in this area.