The Bottom Line How Do You Deal with a Workplace Bully?
Feb 19, 2026
Kevin Rowan, Director of Dispute Resolution at ACAS, advises on workplace disputes and prevention. Kara Ng, organisational psychology lecturer, studies bullying and workplace exclusion. Jason Warner, MD at SBS, speaks about culture and personal experience. They discuss what bullying looks like, how leaders and cultures spread it, prevalence data and legal duties, and practical steps bystanders and employers can take.
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Top-Down Culture Created Public Shaming
- Jason Warner recalled a culture where a managing director publicly named and shamed junior staff.
- He said that senior bullying created a clique that made the workplace toxic and caused 'Sunday scaries'.
Environment Shapes Bullying More Than Disposition
- Kara Ng argued the work environment often shapes whether people bully, not just individual disposition.
- She said leaders model behaviour and create a ripple effect that normalises abuse.
Higher Numbers May Reflect Reporting, Not Only Rise
- Reported increases in bullying may reflect more recognition and reporting, not only a rise in incidence.
- Kevin Rowan noted bullying is still likely under-reported despite higher figures.