COMBATING BULLYING AND HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

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Conference
2016 National Disabled Members' Conference
Date
5 July 2016
Decision
Carried as Amended

This Conference notes with great concern the high number of disabled workers experiencing bullying and harassment at work, with research by CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development) highlighting that 37% of disabled workers have experienced bullying and harassment, compared to 18% of non-disabled workers. Further research from Cardiff University highlighted that the type of disability an individual has can significantly affect their likelihood of experiencing this treatment at work, for example 21% of those with learning disabilities experienced violence at work compared to 10% of disabled workers overall and 5% of those without a disability.

UNISON’s Scottish Young Members Committee recently undertook a survey, as part of their anti bullying project – “Gonnae No Dae That” – about bullying and harassment amongst young workers, which included responses from disabled people. One of the major findings was that 50% of respondents with a disability had impacts on their health and wellbeing due to bullying and harassment, compared to 39% of those without a disability. The health impacts for all groups were exceptionally wide ranging from members suffering from anxiety and depression to attempts at suicide.

‘Conference notes that the “Gonnae No Dae That” campaign was recognised at National Delegate Conference this year and all branches were called on to work with their regional young members forums to run a workplace event in Young Workers Month (November 2016) around the issue of bullying and harassment. The aim being to make young workers – members and non-members – aware of the issues and how they can be tackled through collective organisation and the union’s support, and also as a means of recruiting new members.’

We call on the National Disabled Members Committee to :-

1. produce information, in accessible formats, for disabled members on bullying and harassment within the workplace, on what they can do and what support is available to them.

2. develop a campaign to highlight mental health impacts of bullying and harassment on disabled workers and how they are more vulnerable to its effects, for use by branches.

3. Encourage branch disabled members groups and members to get involved with any activity taking place at branch level around this issue during Young Workers Month this November.