What is bullying?

There is no legal definition of bullying.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) characterises bullying as `offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means intended to undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient'. 

There is a subjective element to whether someone has been bullied which is directly related to how they feel and their perception of a situation, or an action or of a series of actions. 

Bullying can be defined as the persistent and normally deliberate misuse of power or position to intimidate, humiliate or undermine. This definition is most relevant to teachers where their line managers, headteachers and even school governors are misusing their authority. However, ATL’s casework indicates that bullying may arise at all levels in a school ­ a teacher may bully another teacher, a teacher may intimidate a line manager and pupils may harass a teacher. 

The common theme in all these examples is that for teachers,`something has happened to them that is unwelcome, unwarranted and causes a detrimental effect'. 

Bullying has no place in the management of people. Indeed, a positive, constructive management style motivates everyone to make greater efforts. Ideally, your achievements and successes should be acknowledged and celebrated, but the fact that they are not does not of itself constitute bullying. Equally, the occasional reprimand or dash of sarcasm can be unpleasant - particularly if you feel that it is undeserved - but this is not necessarily bullying either. ACAS guidance is again relevant here: `Behaviour that is considered bullying by one person may be considered firm management by another'. 

Bullying, as defined by ATL, can take many forms. It can be:  

• physical: at worst, an assault 
• verbal: shouting, swearing, public reprimands
• non-verbal: ­ostracising, setting unachievable targets and objectives persistent, unplanned intrusion into lessons; unreasonable allocation of duties, or even inappropriate eye contact.     

ACAS gives the following examples of unacceptable behaviour: 

• spreading malicious rumours 
• insulting someone 
• copying critical memos about someone to others who do not need to know 
• ridiculing or demeaning someone 
• exclusion 
• victimisation
• unfair treatment 
• overbearing supervision 
• unwelcome sexual advances 
• touching or standing too close 
• displaying offensive materials 
• making threats or comments about job security without foundation 
• deliberately undermining a competent worker by overloading and constant criticism 
• preventing individuals from progressing by intentionally blocking promotion or training opportunities.     

Bullying may have become such an inherent part of the culture of a school workplace that it can be difficult to recognise. Colleagues may feel intimidated about making a stand and challenging harassing behaviour. They feel that if they do not keep their head down then they might become the target of the bully. There is also the understandable concern that any challenge to such behaviour might be seen as a weakness and an admission that they are failing in their job. 

This is where ATL can assist its members. ATL can provide members with guidance and this is from someone without a connection to the school. ATL can approach the issues objectively and confidentially and give you clear advice on the way forward. 

Help and support

For further advice on this issue, ATL members can speak to their school rep, their branch secretary or their regional official. They can also call the London (020 7930 6441), Cardiff (029 2046 5000), Belfast (028 9078 2020) or Edinburgh (0131 272 2748) offices or email info@atl.org.uk

For out of hours enquiries, call the out of office hours helpline on 020 7782 1612 (Monday-Friday, 5-8pm during term time).

If you are not a member, join now.

 

Further information

• ATL contacts
• Formal action
• Informal action
• Is it bullying?
• The bully
• Using the law

Resources

• Bullying at work, Pdf document, 1307 KB
• Violence, threatening behaviour and abuse, Pdf document, 1180 KB