Bosses ‘are increasingly flouting employment law over bullying’

Posted 05/01/2010

Companies may be increasingly falling foul of employment law by bullying and mistreating their staff during the recession, according to a former charity worker.

Lyn Witheridge, who ran the Andrea Adams Trust bullying helpline until 2009, told the Guardian that workplace bullies are finding it easier to operate because of the pressures caused by the economic downturn.

She revealed that her charity and helpline was forced to close last year due to an “overwhelming” increase in the number of calls it was receiving.

Ms Witheridge suggested that this is partly due to the budgetary problems many companies are facing, which is leading to workers being intentionally marginalised.

She said: “Managers are bullying people as a way of forcing them out and getting costs down.”

This comes after workers’ union Unite last month called on the Church of England to do more to protect its employees from mistreatment after expressing concern that the body is failing to meet its obligations under employment law.