Workplace Bullying and Harassment Solicitors

Unfortunately, bullying doesn’t just happen on the school playground. Individuals can be harassed, bullied or humiliated at work. If this is happening to you or has happened in the recent past our employment solicitors can help.

At Morrish Solicitors, we understand the emotional impact bullying and harassment in the workplace can have on your life. If you are being bullied or harassed, our experienced solicitors can advise on your rights and an appropriate course of action to help you best navigate the problem.

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Bullying & Harassment in the Workplace

Your employer is responsible for taking action to prevent bullying and harassment and should have policies and procedures in place to protect you and your colleagues. If you have made a complaint, it should be investigated promptly and impartially.

If your employer has failed to protect you from harassment, or you are dissatisfied with how your complaint was handled, contact our expert solicitors today.

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Call 033 3344 9600

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Our Workplace Harassment Services

We can advise on a range of issues involving harassment or bullying at work:

Our solicitors have years of experience advising clients on a variety of workplace harassment matters. For more information on how we can support you, please get in touch.

If the bullying or harassment you have suffered has affected your health, our personal injury team may also be able to seek compensation on your behalf.

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What constitutes bullying or harassment at work?

Cases of bullying and harassment in the workplace can sometimes be shrugged off as “a bit of fun” or “banter”. However, there will be times that these incidents cross the line and are thinly veiled cases of bullying or harassment. 

You may be made to feel you are being oversensitive to bullying by others in your workplace. However, it is important to understand what bullying in the workplace can look like: 

  • Excessive criticism, particularly in front of others 
  • Being unfairly excluded from team activities, emails or meetings 
  • Threats to your job security 
  • Being humiliated or demeaned in front of others 
  • Constant teasing, verbal abuse or sexual innuendo 

Some acts of bullying might stray into an act of discriminatory harassment in the workplace. In the Equality Act 2010 harassment is defined as “Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual”. 

This means that the Act protects you from bullying behaviour that relates to: 

  • Age 
  • Disability 
  • Gender Reassignment 
  • Marriage or Civil Partnership 
  • Pregnancy and Maternity 
  • Race 
  • Religion or Belief 
  • Sex 
  • Sexual Orientation 

It is important to note that discriminatory jokes or comments about any of these characteristics don’t have to be directed towards you to constitute harassment. If you overhear discriminatory remarks, even accidentally, they can potentially still count as harassment.  

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What can be done about bullying or harassment at work?

The first step is always to explore the possibility of raising a complaint informally or formally via your employer’s grievance process, with a view to trying to resolve the issues and stop the bullying. It might be possible to achieve a move to another team to get away from the bully, a disciplinary warning for the bully to “nip it in the bud” or some other resolution that resolves the issues. We can assist with the internal process.

However, if this fails or isn’t appropriate due to timescales for example, taking more serious steps, including litigation, might need to be contemplated.

Bullying that isn’t discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010 can amount to a breach of the employment contract. Serious and persistent forms of bullying can completely destroy the trust and confidence you have in your employer. Where you are an employee and you have 2 years’ service or more, you might be able to resign from employment and claim something called “constructive unfair dismissal”.

However, these claims are notoriously difficult to win and so you should take careful legal advice before deciding whether to resign or not.

Harassment under the Equality Act 2010 is actionable in the employment tribunal and you may be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation for injury to feelings and/or financial loss caused by the act/s of harassment.

Either way and before the bullying goes on for too long and causes lasting psychological harm, it is best to take legal advice about your available options and how to resolve the problems.

For more information on how we can support you, please get in touch. 

Why Morrish Solicitors?

Our Employment Rights team has a longstanding reputation for helping clients with a variety of employment law claims, including discrimination.

We understand that your circumstances are unique, and that’s why we’re careful to listen to your situation and provide the best possible solutions to support you.

Personal service

As a Yorkshire-based firm, you can benefit from our competitive rates. We believe in representing people, not large organisations, which is why we aim to provide expert advice, personable service, and excellent value for money.

Expert advice, no matter where you live

All our services can be provided at your convenience either in-person, over the phone or by email or post. So, it doesn’t matter where you live, we’ll always be here to support you.

Want more information? Contact a member of our team today.

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Why our clients choose Morrish Solicitors

The service we received was exceptional, we were kept in formed at every step. The whole experience was dealt with in a very professional manner.

Employment Rights Client, January 2022.

The service we received was exceptional, we were kept in formed at every step. The whole experience was dealt with in a very professional manner.

Employment Rights Client, January 2022

Clear and honest communication and available to speak with when required. A very professional service.

Employment Rights Client, January 2022

Regular updates and clear information without the jargon helped with a group claim that would otherwise have not been awarded

Maddie Daley, January 2022

Morrish Solicitors service was excellent. The level of professionalism was exemplary. I would recommend the firm to everyone, due to the standard of service I received. A job well done and thanks so much for helping me through a difficult period and obtaining the best possible outcome.

Mark Stewart, November 2021

Meet the Employment Rights Team

Daniel Kindell

Partner & Head of Employment

David Sorensen

Managing Partner

Paul Scholey

Employment Consultant

Tony Rippon

Associate Solicitor, Employment

Haylee Chambers

Associate Solicitor, Employment

Hanan Hewitson

Employment Solicitor

Omar Ghaffoor

Employment Solicitor

Starr Thompson

Trainee Solicitor

Christina Moore

Trade Union Helpdesk Advisor