Members of the Society have undertaken training in relation to bullying in the workplace and provide early-stage guidance and support, but acknowledge that this quite often needs intervention from experts and or external teams. It is not enough to believe you have a good level of understanding in this area to start to offer personal opinions. Many do not recognise that bullying behaviour is not framed in law as illegal. However, bullying behaviour will often be grounded in harassment. Bullying is often defined as a misuse of power and the intention to undermine, to humiliate, to injure. It is frequently described as an abuse, insulting, malicious, offensive and intimidating.
Common examples of bullying and harassment include, but are not limited to:
- Spreading malicious rumours, picking on or regularly undermining someone
- Persistently and unwanted negative attacks in respect of someone’s performance, conduct, or appearance
- Deliberately excluding someone
- Making unpleasant comments, sharing private or personal information
Notably, bullying and harassment can take place in person, by electronic means such as emails, messages, and social media or by writing letters, or any other form of communication. The Society raised this matter in November 2024 in response to an increase in such reports, although we have had support and guidance as a professional body since 2015.
How do you navigate a situation of bullying or harassment?
You must first understand if you are being subjected to behaviour that makes you uncomfortable, even if you are not sure whether the behaviour amounts to bullying or harassment.
Keep a record of the bullying behaviour or harassment
Record if the behaviour is face-to-face or by phone or other electronic approaches. Make a note of what is said and when. This could mean keeping emails, texts, taking screenshots of social media posts etc.
This may be cyberbullying or harassment, too, and the additional fields are duly noted.
- Mobbing by a group or a gang that target you,
- Intimidation and blackmail
- Stalking you on line
- Posting humiliating images or videos without consent
- Grooming
- Setting up false profiles, Identity fraud and identity theft
- Theft, fraud, and deception over the internet.
- Excluding someone from team social events
Upward bullying or subordinate bullying
- Spreading rumours
- Showing continued disrespect
- Constantly undermining someone’s authority
- Refusing to complete tasks
- Doing something to make someone feel unskilled or unable to do their job well
Avoid engaging in return bullying or offensive comments
It is easy to get drawn in and respond to such behaviours, avoid engaging in arguments or insults. Ignore what is being said, block perpetrators on social media if this is the source of the behaviour and report it.
Talk to your employer about the behaviour
Bullying and harassment can be subtle, and others may not know this is going on. Speak to your reporting manager or someone in HR. If you are part of a Trade Union that offers representation, it may be helpful. A Trade Union that does not offer representation is not the right trade union for you; the Society is not a Trade Union and currently signposts to Community for Dental Nurses or Unite. It may be possible to resolve the matter as soon as possible. In some circumstances, you may wish to seek independent advice. The Society offers you time with a solicitor and also provides access to Health Assured. If, however, the behaviours include death threats, violence, or stalking, you should involve the police.
Turn to your workplace grievance policy and procedure
Sometimes, it may be necessary to make a formal complaint, and an investigation will ensue, with actions likely to follow. If this issue remains unresolved, legal action may be taken.
Do not suffer in silence
Bullying and harassment can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health, as well as your performance and confidence. Seek out the anti-bullying policy, be proactive and encourage a positive workplace culture.
Employees have a mutual duty to respect each other. Employees do not expect to be bullied at work
Employers expect employees to refrain from bullying and harassing one another in the workplace and to follow all reasonable instructions.
Of course, there is the flip side of this work, the accusing bully, and what to do if you are accused of being a bully. There are, of course, several types of bullies: the psychopathic bully, the serial bully, the compulsive bully. The accusing bully (bitter bullies) create a distorted and constructed version of you, there is a falsehood and lies that they have told themselves and there is often third-person influence and manipulation. It is worth noting that manipulative people act as victims to gain popularity, power and control over others in the bullying situation. When accused of bullying, try not to go into defence mode or give retaliatory treatment; try to diffuse the situation.
You are not alone; we are here to listen and guide you, but also to find you the right support. The team presents to professional groups on this matter and some have ‘real-life’ experiences of being bullied in the dental workplace. Contact us at: admin@bdns.org.uk
Thank you.