Bullying

Bullying in the workplace is more than just an unpleasant one-off joke or comment
by a colleague. Bullying occurs over a longer period of time. The purpose of bullying
is to hurt and belittle others. It includes making jokes at someone else’s expense,
making insulting remarks and damaging property. Bullying can have consequences
for employees’ health and it can affect the atmosphere in a company. Employers are
obliged to have policies designed for dealing with bullying.

Types of bullying
Types of bullying are among others:

• making annoying comments;

• making jokes at your expense;
• insults, abusive language;
• ignoring someone or isolating them;
• reprimanding someone in the presence of others;
• making gestures;
• damaging property.

What to do if you are being bullied at work

If you are the victim of bullying by your colleagues or your boss, it is important to say
that you are not prepared to accept it. You can discuss the bullying that you are the victim
of with a colleague whom you trust, or with a manager. You can also go to a confidential
adviser. If your company does not have one, you can go to the health and safety service.
Your employer must protect you against bullying in the workplace.

When your colleague is a victim of bullying

If you notice that a colleague is being bullied, you should speak to the person doing it
about their behaviour. This is a good way of supporting the victim. Bullying often stops if
enough other people make clear that they do not appreciate such conduct.

Consequences of bullying at the workplace

Bullying has negative consequences on the well-being of employees and on the overall
performance of the company where they work.
Employees may be affected by headaches, stomach complaints and sleeping problems.
Bullying over a longer period of time can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms of this are nightmares, memory loss, loss of concentration and avoidance
behaviour.
Employees who work in companies where bullying takes place are less likely to enjoy
their work, and the atmosphere in such companies is unpleasant. Employees will be more
inclined to report sick or look for another job.
How your employer should protect you from bullying at work
Your employer must protect you against bullying in the workplace. In his risk inventory
& evaluation (RI&E), your employer sets out what he is doing to prevent and combat
bullying. The RI&E lists the risks that exist for employees as well as the measures that
are needed to ensure that employees can work safely and in a way that does not harm
their health. Every employer has an RI&E.

Your employer should also give you information about bullying. For example, he may
discuss it during work meetings or in an article in the staff magazine.

Some employers appoint a confidential adviser and establish a complaints procedure.

Employees can use them if they have any complaints about bullying.

Seeking outside help when you are being bullied

The Juridisch Loket (free legal advice service point) can inform you how to get
information about legal aid (information is in Dutch).
Information and advice for anyone being bullied is available from the Labour
Inspectorate, victims assistance office Slachtofferhulp Nederland and the Dutch Equal
Treatment Commission (CGB). Most trade unions have a legal service that their members
can use.