Bullying & Harassment in the Workplace Course

Bullying & Harassment in the Workplace – Online Course

Course overview
This one-hour online course introduces workplace bullying, harassment and other forms of unacceptable behaviour. Learners explore how these behaviours affect individuals and organisations, how concerns can be recognised and reported, and the responsibilities of employers, managers and individuals. The course covers practical approaches to addressing concerns and promoting respectful workplace relationships. It is CPD accredited and includes an online multiple-choice assessment and digital certificate.

Please note: This is an introductory Level 1 course designed to develop awareness and understanding of workplace bullying and harassment. It does not replace any practical, regulated or role-specific training an employer may require.

What the course covers
• Definitions and principles of workplace bullying
• Counterproductive behaviour and unacceptable conduct
• Psychological contracts, organisational justice and workplace climate
• Different forms of bullying and harassment
• The effects of bullying on individuals and organisations
• Employer responsibilities and appropriate organisational responses
• Actions and responsibilities of managers and individual employees
• Recognising and responding to bullying
• Recording and reporting workplace concerns
• Mediation and formal or legal action
• Bullying involving patients, relatives and other third parties
• Cyberbullying
• Witnessing bullying and responding appropriately

Who is it for?
This course is suitable for employees and workers across a range of sectors, including healthcare, social care, care homes, domiciliary care, education, business and other workplace settings.

It is particularly relevant to:
• Employees who want to recognise and respond to inappropriate workplace behaviour
• Employers, managers and supervisors
• Human resources professionals
• Trade union representatives
• Health and safety representatives
• Workplace mediators and counsellors
• Healthcare and social care staff who may encounter difficult behaviour from colleagues, patients, service users, relatives or other third parties

The course can also support workplace induction, refresher learning and general awareness of appropriate professional conduct.

Practical benefits
• Improve understanding of bullying, harassment and unacceptable behaviour
• Recognise verbal, physical and cyberbullying
• Understand the potential psychological and physical effects of workplace bullying
• Identify appropriate ways to record, report and respond to concerns
• Clarify the responsibilities of employers, managers and individuals
• Support respectful, safer and more inclusive workplace environments
• Develop awareness of when advice or further action may be needed
• Access flexible online learning from a phone, tablet or computer
• Obtain a CPD-accredited digital certificate after successfully completing the assessment

What learners will be able to do
• Explain key concepts and terminology relating to workplace bullying and harassment
• Recognise inappropriate behaviour and identify relevant workplace concerns
• Understand how bullying can affect individuals and organisations
• Identify the responsibilities and boundaries associated with their role
• Understand how to keep records of workplace concerns
• Recognise appropriate reporting and escalation routes
• Understand the purpose of mediation and formal action
• Communicate concerns to relevant people when issues arise
• Apply good-practice principles to support respectful workplace conduct

Is this training a legal requirement?
There is no general UK legal requirement for every employee to complete this specific workplace bullying and harassment course. However, employers have legal responsibilities relating to the prevention of unlawful harassment and the management of workplace concerns.

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against unlawful harassment related to protected characteristics and sexual harassment. Since 26 October 2024, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 has required employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of workers.

Training can form part of an organisation’s wider approach to prevention, alongside appropriate policies, reporting arrangements, risk assessments and management procedures. Completing this course alone does not establish that an employer has met all its legal responsibilities.

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online multiple-choice assessment. A minimum score of 80% is required to pass, with unlimited retakes available. After successfully completing the assessment, learners can download a CPD-accredited digital certificate through the course portal. The course takes approximately one hour and is delivered online, allowing learners to study at their own pace using a phone, tablet or computer.