How are bullying and harassment defined by law?
Bullying and harassment are generally considered to be unwelcome and unwarranted conduct that results in detrimental treatment. Under the statutory definition, harassment occurs where, on the grounds of sex, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age, one person engages in unwanted conduct that violates another person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 sets out an extended definition of harassment that covers both harassment on the grounds of sex (or gender reassignment) and harassment of a sexual nature. The Act covers the situation where a person is treated less favourably for either having rejected or submitted to either form of harassment. While there is no statutory definition of bullying, conciliation service Acas defines it as “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means int
