Quality matters: when Codes of Ethics can make a real difference
08 September 2025
What is the ethical issue?
Bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm. Harassment includes unwelcome and persistent attention, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which creates a hostile or offensive work environment. Bullying and harrassment poses a serious obstacle to creating a positive, productive working environment.
This kind of behaviour creates a toxic and tense environment, and if it goes unchecked, sends a message of acceptance. If mechanisms are not in place for employees to report bullying or harassment, and if these reports are not investigated thoroughly, it can have serious impacts on individuals and the organisation as a whole.
One of the difficult aspects of this kind of behaviour, is that it can be hard to define, and even harder to spot, as legally, bullying is 'in the eye of the beholder'. One person's 'joke' can make another person feel uncomfortable, and if it persists can feel bullying and belittling.
There is a fine line that organisations and their employees tread between banter and bullying. Banter can help bring down barriers in teams and create a shared sense of fun, yet if banter crosses the line, it can exclude people and make them feel uncomfortable, undermining the inclusive environment that is attempting to be built and maintained. It may also be the starting point for other forms of inappropriate behavior, becoming a gateway for more extreme behaviours such as sexual harassment.
IBE Guidance
A summary of good practice
- Everyone is entitled to fair treatment, courtesy and respect. Organisations should not tolerate any form of abuse or harassment of employees, contractors, suppliers, customers or anyone else.
- Responsible managers develop the right culture by encouraging people to speak up about inappropriate behaviour, but this also requires reliable and confidential channels to do so. By embedding these policies into day-to-day operations and regularly reviewing them, bullying and other inappropriate behaviour can be rooted out, resulting in less complaints, less exit interview revelations and a happier workplace.
Further resources
Bullying: rules and values
Read the latest blog by Prof. Chris Cowton, IBE’s Associate Director.
17 November 2022
Attitudes of the British Public to Business Ethics 2022
Businesses and UK politicians must do better at demonstrating their ethical credentials if they are to win back the confidence of the British public - the 2022 results of the IBE's annual survey of the attitudes of the British public to business ethics.
29 June 2022
Employees’ voices: a glass half full
The results of our latest Ethics at Work survey bring us some good news, but also some red flags that cannot be ignored as organisations shape their ethical agenda for the future.
08 December 2021
Ethics at Work: 2021 International Survey of Employees
This survey is the only one of its kind, covering 13 countries over four continents, that provides real insight into employees’ views on ethics across all sectors and job roles.
04 November 2021
Attitudes of the British Public to Business Ethics 2020
The 2020 results of the IBE's annual survey of the attitudes of the British public to business ethics.
30 December 2020
Hugh Kay Lecture: Standards in Public Life - Are we in a Post-Nolan age?
View the recording of our webinar.
12 November 2020
Embedding Business Ethics: 2020 report on corporate ethics policies and programmes
This report is the ninth in the triennial series looking at corporate ethics policies and programmes. It is the IBE’s longest-running survey series, and continues to give valuable insights into how companies run their ethics programmes.
01 April 2020
Ethics at Work 2018: Germany
This survey report describes the German findings of our 2018 Ethics at Work research and provides comparison with the European average from the eight countries surveyed.
10 December 2019
Ethics at Work 2018: Italy
This survey report describes the Italian findings of our 2018 Ethics at Work research and provides comparison with the European average from the eight countries surveyed.
10 December 2019
Ethics at Work 2018: Singapore
This survey report describes the Singapore findings of our 2018 Ethics at Work research and provides comparison with Switzerland and the UK.
23 September 2019
Ethics at Work 2018: Canada
This survey report describes the Canadian findings of our 2018 Ethics at Work research and provides comparison with Switzerland and the UK.
26 June 2019
Ethics at Work 2018: Switzerland
This survey report describes the Swiss findings of our 2018 Ethics at Work research and provides comparison with the European average.
23 May 2019
Ethics at Work 2018: New Zealand
This survey report describes the New Zealand findings of our 2018 Ethics at Work research.
28 November 2018