Bullying & Harassment in the Workplace: Legal Support from Orpen Franks
Workplace bullying and harassment are serious issues that can devastate an employee’s health, career, and well-being. In Ireland, employers have a legal duty under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to provide a safe working environment, which includes protecting staff from bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment. Employers also have a general duty of care to prevent foreseeable injury/harm to their employees. If you are experiencing a toxic work environment, seeking advice from a specialist employment law solicitor in Dublin is essential to understanding your rights and the remedies available to you.
Bullying in the workplace is defined as repeated, inappropriate behaviour that undermines an individual’s right to dignity at work. This can include verbal abuse, isolation, cyber-bullying, or being singled out for unfair treatment. Harassment, on the other hand, is unwanted conduct related to any of the nine discriminatory grounds (such as gender, age, disability, or race) under the Employment Equality Acts. Whether the conduct comes from a manager, a colleague, or even a client, your employer is responsible for having a robust Dignity at Work policy in place to address it.
If you are being bullied, the first step is often to invoke your employer’s internal grievance or bullying and harassment policy. Documenting every incident, including dates, times, witnesses, and the impact on your health, is vital. If an employer fails to investigate your complaint fairly or fails to stop the behaviour, you may have grounds for a claim before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) or, in cases of personal injury or psychological distress, a claim through the civil courts.
Why Choose Orpen Franks Solicitors LLP?
At Orpen Franks, our dedicated employment law team provides expert, confidential advice to employees facing bullying and harassment in Ireland. We understand the sensitivity of these cases and provide a clear legal strategy to help you resolve the situation, whether through internal procedures, a negotiated settlement agreement, or litigation.
Our balanced perspective is a key advantage; because we advise both employers and employees, we know exactly how a company should, and often fails to, handle a bullying investigation. We use this insight to hold employers accountable and ensure fair procedures are followed.
Orpen Franks has a proven track record of securing successful outcomes for clients in complex workplace disputes. If you are suffering from bullying at work or harassment, contact Orpen Franks Solicitors LLP today to speak with a leading employment law solicitor in Dublin. We will help you protect your dignity and your career.
Bullying Harassment in the Workplace FAQ's
In Ireland, workplace bullying is defined as repeated, inappropriate behaviour – whether verbal, physical, or otherwise, direct or indirect, conducted by one or more persons at a place of work, which could reasonably be regarded as undermining the individual’s right to dignity at work. A single incident generally does not constitute bullying, but it may constitute harassment if it relates to one of the nine discriminatory grounds under the Employment Equality Acts. If you are unsure if your experience meets the legal threshold, our employment law solicitors can provide a confidential assessment of your situation.
You should review your employer’s Dignity at Work policy or Bullying and Harassment policy. Usually, the process involves an informal stage followed by a formal grievance. It is highly recommended to seek legal advice early in this process to ensure your complaints are documented correctly and that you are protected against potential penalisation for raising a “protected disclosure” or grievance.
Yes, there are several legal routes. You can bring a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) under the Employment Equality Acts or the Industrial Relations Acts. In cases where the bullying has caused a diagnosed psychological or physical injury, you may be able to pursue a personal injury claim through the civil courts for negligence or breach of duty. At Orpen Franks, we help you determine the most effective legal path to achieve justice and compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Employers have a statutory duty to provide a safe place of work. If an employer fails to investigate a complaint of bullying in the workplace or fails to take adequate steps to stop the behaviour, they may be held liable for the resulting damages. In extreme cases, if the situation becomes so intolerable that you are forced to leave your job, you may have grounds for a constructive dismissal claim. Our Dublin-based solicitors specialize in holding employers accountable when they fail to follow fair procedures and protect their staff.
