What's in it for me?
Find out how BT has acted to reduce workplace bullying by:
- Introducing policies to reduce workplace bullying
- Training staff on the policies and acceptable behaviour
- Introducing key metrics to monitor progress
- Openly managing the process
- Extending the company's influence on bullying issues in the wider community
Case study summary
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services, and operates in 170 countries. The company recognises that, regardless of industry, today's fast moving workplace can provide employees with a number of additional stresses. New technologies and fierce competition mean that companies must continually update processes and structures to remain competitive. Equally, there are significant commercial pressures on managers, sales and operational staff to win and retain multi-million pound contracts.
BT recognises that these issues can affect an employee's job satisfaction, may negatively affect health and well-being and may increase incidences of bullying and harassment. BT understands that these issues can have a significant impact on the workplace by increasing staff turnover, recruitment costs and workplace absences. As part of its efforts to tackle these issues, BT has taken a positive stance on bullying and put in place a series of actions to address it. These include:
- Introducing policies to reduce bullying and harassment and encourage dignity at work and 'whistleblowing'
- Training staff on policies and acceptable behaviours
- Introducing key Human Resource metrics to monitor progress
- Managing the process openly and in co-operation with unions rather than taking a 'behind closed doors' approach adopted by many employers
- Extending the company's influence on bullying in the wider community by sponsoring anti-bullying initiatives in schools and actively supporting charities such as ChildLine, the free helpline for children in danger