Bullying and harassment at work

Workplace bullying and harassment can come from managers, colleagues, customers, clients, service users or other third parties. It can happen face to face, online, during remote or hybrid working, while travelling for work or at work-related events.

What is bullying at work?

Bullying at work may involve offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour. It can also be an abuse of power that undermines, humiliates or causes physical or emotional harm.

Bullying may be a one-off incident or a pattern of repeated behaviour. Even when harm is not intended, the impact on the individual can still be significant.

What is harassment at work?

Harassment has a specific legal meaning under the Equality Act 2010. It is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and is unlawful.

Harassment may occur in person, through digital communications or on social media linked to work.

Who can be affected?

Workplace bullying and harassment can affect:

• The person experiencing the behaviour
• Colleagues who witness the behaviour
• Team and workplaces where poor behaviour becomes accepted

For example, racist jokes, sexual images or degrading comments may create an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for other employees, even if they are not directed at them.

Someone may also experience victimisation if they are treated unfairly because they:

• Raised a concern
• Made a complaint
• Supported someone else’s complaint
• Acted as a witness

Not all workplace concerns involve bullying or harassment. Some may be workplace conflict or disagreements between colleagues.

Find out more about conflict management in the workplace.

Page last reviewed: 28th October 2026