Respecting the Individual - Dignity @ Work
Respecting an individual’s dignity is a central
part of the British legal system. In terms
of work, every employee has the right to a
workplace which respects their individuality
and identity. The Dignity at Work Act 2001
was created especially to protect this right
and it details exactly how an employee should
expect to be treated and what happens if this
goes wrong.
Bullying is estimated to cost the UK economy
around £2 billion a year and 18.9 million
workdays are lost due to the stress harassment
causes. There is clearly still an issue with
bullying in the workplace. But exactly how
does the Dignity at Work Act aim to control
the issue?
For the sake of legislation, bullying and
harassment are described as ‘unwanted
behaviour that offends, persecutes or excludes
someone’. This can be anything from
constantly feeling like the butt of office jokes
to being constantly and needlessly criticised for
the work you do. A sudden change in duties
with no reasonable justification can also be
classed as harassment, as can a punishment
which you feel is unfair or unjustified.
It might be workmates who are the ones doing
the bullying, but it is always your employer
who is responsible for ensuring your dignity at
work. They should not only deal with bullying
issues as soon as they are made aware of them,
but they should also be making moves to create
a positive and welcoming atmosphere. This
means having a good dignity at work policy
which every employee has access to. Larger
companies also offer diversity training and work
closely with unions and the HR department to
make sure they have a zero tolerance when it
comes to bullying in the workplace.
But if your employer does fail you, then the
Dignity at Work Act also outlines some steps
you can take to rectify the issue. First you can
apply to ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and
Arbitration Service) to see if the matter can
be sorted swiftly. If not, you can take your
employer to an employment tribunal. An
employment tribunal is an independent body
which resolves disputes between employees and
employers and you can make a claim to them if
you feel you have been unfairly treated.
It all sounds long and complicated, but there
are some simple guides online to the rules
regarding dignity in the workplace. If in doubt,
a first port of call should be ACAS. You can get
loads of info from their website (
.
uk) or give them a call on their helpline, which
is 0300 123 1100
Commitment to an inclusive community that
celebrates diversity is at the heart of the
University of Portsmouth.
Where futures become brighter
To find out more
about the University:
T: +44 (0)23 9284 4444
E:
The University has been placed in the top 2 per cent of universities in
the world by the Times Higher Education University World Rankings.
The results of the 2014 National Student Survey revealed that student
satisfaction has risen to 88 per cent which is above the national
average.
The University is a member the LGB charity Stonewall Diversity
Champions Programme and we are pro-active in working to ensure
we provide an inclusive gay-friendly environment for both staff and
students. This is acknowledged in our good performance in
Stonewalls Workplace Equality Index and Gay By Degree Survey.
We’re not just a great place to study, but to work too. In the last
staff survey, 91 per cent of respondents said the University is a
good place to work. Our staff development programmes support
teaching, research, academic and personal development, offering
real career progression opportunities. Set in an historic and vibrant
waterfront city, you couldn’t ask for more.
WINTER 2015
30
31
