This leaflet outlines the civil service policy on harassment, sexual harassment and bullying. This document defines harassment, sexual harassment and bullying. It summarises the civil service policy in this regard and illustrates the types of behaviour that constitute harassment, sexual harassment and bullying. The detailed policy which sets out in full the procedures to be followed in the investigation of a complaint of such behaviour may be obtained from Personnel Sections, trade union representatives or the Employee Assistance Service. Bullying can be defined as offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, or abuse of power conducted by an individual or group against others, which makes the recipient feel upset, threatened, humiliated or vulnerable, which undermines their self-confidence and which may cause them to suffer stress.
Bullying is behaviour which is generally persistent, systematic and ongoing.
The following is a list of behaviour which might be characterised as bullying. Harassment may be by a client, customer or business contact of an employer in addition to other staff members . It also provides that different treatment of a person in the workplace or in the course of employment, because of harassment constitutes discrimination . Sexual harassment is defined as including all unwelcome and sexually, or otherwise on gender ground, offensive, humiliating or intimidating actions involving acts of physical intimacy, spoken words, gestures, or the production, display or circulation of written material or pictures, or requests for sexual favours. Sexual harassment may be by a client, customer or business contact of an employer in addition to other staff members .