Employers need to analyse their policies on bullying in the light of the recent furore over Channel 4's Big Brother, Allianz Cornhill has warned.
On the weekend, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty emerged as the winner of the reality show, following allegations of bullying and racism from fellow housemates.
Allianz Cornhill's business development manager David Vine said: "The personal suffering and huge costs associated with workplace bullying will not be curbed unless companies actively engage with employees to help tackle the problem.”
He added: "Despite the potential for costly legal action, many businesses do not have legal expenses insurance. Among SMEs for example, fewer than half are believed to have cover.”
Workplace bullying is estimated to cost UK employers over £2 billion a year in sick pay, staff turnover and loss of production, according to an Amicus survey published last September. The research also showed that one in five staff members are bullied at work every day. With 18.9 million days lost every year, the cost to individual companies stands at an average of 10 per cent of their annual profits on top of the threat of costly litigation.
Vine said: "Merely having anti-bullying policies in place will not ensure a harassment-free environment for staff. It is important for companies to have initiatives which are created and implemented by the workforce so that all employees realise their responsibilities should bullying come to their attention. It may even prompt an appraisal of their own behaviour.”
