The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) recognises bullying and harassment as serious workplace issues.

Acas uses the following definitions.

Bullying "is regular intimidation that undermines the confidence and capability of the victim. Bullying can take the form of verbal abuse, violent gestures, physical violence, allocation of blame and 'picking on' workers unfairly, public humiliation of workers, or a more 'subtle' war of words to undermine the worker's confidence."

Bullying can be similar to harassment, which "occurs when one person's or a group's behaviour towards another gives offence. For example, such behaviour may take the form of remarks designed to embarrass, inappropriate jokes or ridicule, unwelcome physical contact, suggestions or demands for sexual favours, racial shunning or segregation or racial abuse."

Thanks largely to the efforts of trades unions like the NUJ, more and more workers are coming to realise that they need not and should not tolerate such behaviour. This guide contains advice on how to respond to bullying or harassment directed towards you or your colleagues as well as highlighting the effects that such behaviours can have on victims.