Ask an Expert - Allegations of Bullying
Ask an Expert - Allegations of Bullying
Q: An employee has recently approached me
with allegations that she is being bullied and
singled out by her line manager. She is worried
about her job, especially as she is a single parent,
and does not want to raise the matter formally.
Others in the team have approached me stating
that they are aware something is going on and
are feeling uncomfortable watching it. What
advice can I give her, aside from raising this
formally?
A: You have a duty of care to this employee and she should be encouraged to give you details of the incidents to which she is referring. Should she decide not to disclose any more information, you should do all that you can to investigate and establish as full a picture as possible about what has been going on. From a pragmatic perspective, it would be wise to reassure this person that you will treat her concerns with confidentiality and in accordance with your grievance procedures.