§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has to combat bullying in the workplace; and if he will make a statement. [1004]
§ Mr. Jonathan EvansEmployees who are experiencing bullying in the workplace should in the first instance take this up with their employer, making use of any internal grievance procedures. The Health and Safety Executive's recently published booklet, "Stress at Work: A Guide for Employers", provides advice on preventing ill health though stress which may be caused by persistent bullying. Bullying could constitute grounds for a complaint of constructive unfair dismissal to an industrial tribunal and under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 it is a criminal offence to cause intentional harassment, alarm or distress.