LGBTQ Community Takes A Stand Against Workplace Bullying
You are not alone when it comes to different circumstances in the workplace, whatever they might be, affecting your wellbeing. In some cases, you might be able to deal with those issues with your employer directly or you might require advice from solicitors. Workplace bullying is an example where anyone can experience it both in the short and long term.
It is simple for most people to discriminate against someone they work alongside, whether it’s for their sex, religion or ethnicity. Some work environments have no control over the ‘banter’ that some people will subject others to, not knowing when their sense of humour can turn into a targeted attack against someone.
Some areas of the LGBTQ community will know full well about bullying. While more people are embracing changing attitudes and accepting people for who they are, there is still a long road ahead before harassment stops towards certain people.
The London Evening Standard reported on a transgender woman who took her employer to an employment tribunal after she claimed that she had been bullied and intimidated for three years.
Hayley Stanley said that she experienced comments such as “geezer mate” and “bloke”, along with her bicycle being vandalised and her workstation “regularly used as a dumping ground or makeshift tea-break area”.
Regardless of the outcome of the case, it once again spotlights the issues that LGBTQ members can face in the workplace. It is not something that will change overnight, but it is important to not let any kind of bullying extend for a long period of time.
It is not necessarily restricted to people that would consider themselves as part of LGBTQ. It applies to everyone across the UK, with more people coming forward to hold their employers to account.
According to research from Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) (via Law Gazette), there has been a 30 per cent increase in people likely to bring their employer to a tribunal.
Following on from the UK Supreme Court’s decision to scrap fees for tribunals, the research showed that claims have moved from 1,700 per week to 2,200 per week.
Sir Brendan Barber, chair of ACAS, commented: “The number of people deciding to pursue a tribunal claim has definitely increased since the Supreme Court decision to scrap fees.”
The scrapping of fees makes a tribunal far more appealing to employees than it once was. If you’re receiving harassment from one person – or even more – then you should immediately seek out advice for the best method to address the situation.
Whether you consider yourself as LGBTQ or not, any form of bullying should not be treated lightly. Not every tribunal will end up being a national news story, but you should not feel like that’s a reason to avoid your problems. You’re not at fault for any bullying – nor should you let yourself believe that – but it’s better to deal with it as it happens than let it continue for several years.