The UK’s Film and TV Charity has issued new guidance on bullying following the results of its Looking Glass survey, which highlighted that nearly half of managers who had dealt with complaints of bullying didn’t feel appropriately skilled to do so.
Listen, Acknowledge, Act – Bullying Support for Employers works alongside the charity’s existing Bullying Advice Service for individuals experiencing bullying. The new guidance aims to provide managers with the advice and skills needed to deal with incidences of bullying and harassment.
The guidance and resources are broken down into three distinct sections:
- Listen: practical advice about Active Listening and the provision of meaningful support
- Acknowledge: how bystanders and managers can create an anti-bullying culture in the workplace and ensure people feel heard
- Act: guidance around the appropriate course of action for employers, according to the perceived level of risk
Speaking about the guidance, Justine Walton, bullying service adviser said “Bullying, and the workplace culture that too often enables it, is still far too prevalent across the industry and our research shows that too many managers and people in positions of authority feel ill-equipped to navigate what can often be incredibly complex issues.
“Advocating a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment is critical, and we hope that ‘Listen, Acknowledge, Act’ encapsulates the practical steps managers can apply, offering them a collaborative and solutions-driven way of navigating and addressing areas of conflict. Bullying and harassment are insidious attacks on the wellbeing of people working in film and TV, but the determination to change the narrative is clear and these steps are an important part of the solution.”
