New Centre Tackling Workplace Bullying Launched

Bullying and stress in the workplace could be costing organisations in the UK a staggering £13.75billion a year*.

Last year alone 33.5million days were lost by UK organisations due to bullying related absenteeism, almost 200,000 employees left organisations and the equivalent of 100 million days productivity were lost as a result of bullying.

The Centre for Research on Workplace Behaviours at the University of Glamorgan Business School, the only centre of its kind in the UK, was officially launched at the House of Lords this week (17th September) and will conduct research into the causes and effects of workplace bullying and other behaviours in businesses and organisations throughout the UK and further a field.

According to a recent study by the TUC and the YouGov poll of more than 2,500 people at work in Britain, one in seven people in the UK have been bullied at work, with higher paid staff more likely to report problems.

Co- Director Professor Michael Sheehan commented, “Clearly the issue of workplace bullying in a serious matter and has implications, not only for those who experience being bullied at work but also for those who witness the inappropriate behaviours and for organisations themselves. Such behaviours do little to contribute to organisational loyalty, or commitment. Nor do they enhance productivity, increase job satisfaction, or decrease turnover. The centre aims to advance understanding of relationships and behaviours on a local, national and international level”.

The launch hosted a range of key speakers including the CEO of Acas, John Taylor, Deputy General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, Steve Elliott, CIA and Labour Peer, Baroness Wall of New Barnet, who is the former Head of Policy at trade union Amicus.

Professor Duncan Lewis and Professor Michael Sheehan who are Co-Directors of the Centre chose to launch first in London because they are keen to be seen as a UK and global centre of research expertise. The Centre conducts pan-UK research and has worked with a number of major organisations and trade unions nationally.

Areas of expertise within the Research Centre include ‘Bullying in the Workplace’, ‘Conflict and Conflict Resolution,’ and ‘Equalities and Diversity challenges’. The Centre can also assist with organisational change and development strategies and with bespoke research studies on workplace issues such as emotion at work, group behaviours, partnership behaviours, and corporate socially responsible behaviours.

Professor Duncan Lewis in collaboration with colleagues at Cardiff University is currently involved with the UK’s first nationally representative study on bullying and harassment.

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