Ban bullying and harassment

Bullying and harassment are a major hazard for UCU members.

If you are affected by bullying or harassment or want to do something about it you may find the following materials useful:

• Please note the handbook 'Stopping bullying and harassment at work', on essential steps to take to prevent bullying and harassment, is currently being updated.
•  Who listens? Bullying in further and higher education (.doc) [159kb] - summary of email survey of sample of UCU members in November 2008.

Factsheets for members

•  Practical steps to ensure internet safety (.pdf) [132kb]
   Practical steps to ensure internet safety (.doc) [160kb]
•  Cyber-bullying: the invisible hand of bullying (.pdf) [151kb]
   Cyber-bullying: the invisible hand of bullying (.doc) [159kb]
•  If you believe that you are being bullied, the chances are, you are (.pdf) [22kb]
   If you believe that you are being bullied, the chances are, you are (.doc) [144kb]
•  What to do if you are being bullied or harassed (.pdf) [22kb]
   What to do if you are being bullied or harassed (.doc) [163kb]
•  What to do if you witness bullying or harassment (.pdf) [18kb]
   What to do if you witness bullying or harassment (.doc) [157kb]
•  Guidance for those accused of bullying or harassment (.pdf) [23kb]
   Guidance for those accused of bullying or harassment (.doc) [160kb]

Downloads

 'Workplace violence - don't ignore it' poster - male (.pdf) [74kb]

 Bullies are a workplace hazard - poster (.pdf) [122kb]

 Cyber-bullying is a workplace hazard - poster (.pdf) [77kb]

 Staff notice: this is no place for... - poster (.pdf) [151kb]

 No entry for bullies - poster (.pdf) [65kb]

 No entry for bullies - poster 2 (.pdf) [90kb]

 'Workplace violence - don't ignore it' poster - female (.pdf) [67kb]

Hard copies of these posters can also be ordered, as well as sets of stickers - please email campaigns@ucu.org.uk

Additional resources for branch/LA officers

• Some employers accused of bullying often claim that it isn't bullying, it is simply a robust managerial approach; and that in an academic environment, staff should be able to deal with that by argument and debate. This simple questionnaire should help you test if your employer is a bully or merely 'robust':
   Robust management style or bullying? (.doc) [131kb]
• UCU and other unions have reached a national agreement with the Association of College for all FE colleges which branches and LAs can use as a model for local implementation:
   Guidelines on harassment & bullying in FE (Eng/Wal) (.doc) [89kb]
• Tackling bullying and harassment at work - a two-day UCU course for reps
•  Model letter re bullying & harassment (.doc) [145kb]
•  Trade union survey on bullying (.doc) [176kb]
•  Example survey on bullying - South Thames College (.doc) [35kb]
•  Example survey on bullying - Leeds Metropolitan University (.doc) [91kb]

Further information

• Stress toolkit
• Safety representatives, branches and LAs should approach their regional office initially for advice or contact the health and safety advice service.
• See also, UCU's toolkit Implementing the equality duties.

Other sources of information

Health and Safety Executive
Rose Court
2 Southwark Bridge
London SE1 9HS
www.hse.gov.uk

Useful publications:
Management Standards for Work Related Stress
Tackling Work related stress in education
Guidance for Safety Representatives

Equality Challenge Unit
7th floor, Queens House
55/56 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3LJ
www.ecu.ac.uk

Useful publications:
Handbook on Dignity at Work for HE Institutions (includes input from UCU)

Association of Colleges
2-5 Stedham Place
London WC1A 1HU
www.aoc.co.uk

ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
Brandon House
180 Borough High Street
London SE1 1LW
www.acas.org.uk
Guidance on bullying and harassment

Labour Research Department
78 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8HF
www.lrd.org.uk

Useful publications:
Tackling bullying and harassment - a trade unionist's guide

Trades Union Congress
www.tuc.org.uk
See TUC health and safety pages

College and University Support Network
www.cusn.info
Excellent web site and professional counselling and support

The Andrea Adams Trust
www.andreaadamstrust.org
Leading anti-bullying charity