Bullying: it never went away

Workplace bullying is widespread, with negative impacts on organisations and employees. In our profession, there is a real potential for it to have a negative impact on the people we offer care and support to. Bullying and harassment of staff by co-workers and managers negatively affects how teams work. Where there is bullying, staff will be less willing to own up to any mistakes or to report any concerns. Regardless of these serious ramifications, organisations (including our NHS) do not deal appropriately with this malignant problem. Although organisations may have anti-bullying policies in place, often they fail to provide sufficient protection to employees from the damage that can be caused by bullying.

Our Code (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018) makes it clear that all registrants, at all times, must be honest and act with integrity, and must treat people fairly without discrimination, bullying or harassment. The NHS Constitution (Department of Health and Social Care, 2021) proclaims that all staff are entitled to healthy and safe working conditions, in an environment that is free from harassment, bullying or violence. Yet we continue to ‘eat our young’ and this affects job performance.