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Bullying and harassment at work

Learn how to recognise, prevent and respond to bullying and harassment and build a culture where everyone is treated with dignity and respect at work.

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The impact of bullying and harassment at work

Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work.

Workplace bullying and harassment can harm mental and physical health, damage working relationships and reduce people’s ability to perform well at work.

Evidence reviewed by the CIPD links workplace bullying with:

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Reduced confidence and self-esteem
  • Lower job satisfaction
  • Reduced performance
  • Increased sickness absence

Read the CIPD evidence review.

For employers, bullying and harassment can lead to:

  • Reduce trust and morale
  • Higher sickness absence
  • Increased employee turnover
  • More formal grievances and complaints
  • Reduced productivity

Bullying and harassment can also weaken psychological safety, making employees less likely to speak up, share ideas or report concerns.

Find out more about psychological safety in the workplace.

Page last reviewed: 28th October 2026