Bullying and harassment policy template

£14.99

UK-specific • Editable • Instant download • 12 months' updates

Our Bullying and Harassment Policy Template combats workplace mistreatment, fostering a safe and respectful environment for all employees.

Bullying and harassment policy template
2026 Reviewed
Specifications
Access 12 months (includes updates)
Length 2 pages • 649 words
Jurisdiction England, Wales and Scotland
Based on UK employment law, ACAS guidance
Last review 01/08/2026
Next review 01/02/2027
Delivery Instant download
Formats .doc · .txt · email

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Bullying and harassment policy

1   Overview

1.1   [Company Name] is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment in which all employees are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and harassment of any form are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The company aims to prevent all forms of inappropriate behaviour and to act promptly and effectively in response to any complaints or incidents.

1.2   This policy outlines the organisation’s position on bullying and harassment, defines the types of behaviours that are considered unacceptable, and provides guidance on how issues will be addressed to maintain a safe and inclusive workplace. All employees must adhere to this policy to help foster a positive and respectful environment for everyone.

2   Scope

2.1   This policy applies to all employees, workers, contractors, and job applicants at [Company Name], regardless of position, role, or length of employment.

2.2   The policy covers all forms of bullying and harassment in the workplace, including behaviour that occurs in the office, during business trips, at work-related events, and through digital communication channels such as email and social media.

3   General Principles

3.1   Commitment to respectful behaviour

[Company Name] is committed to a workplace where individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Bullying and harassment, whether

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What is a bullying and harassment policy?

Bullying and harassment policy template preview

A bullying and harassment policy outlines an organisation's commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, detailing steps to prevent and address bullying and harassment. It defines unacceptable behaviours such as verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, and physical assault, and specifies potential consequences, including disciplinary action or termination.

The policy also highlights the role of managers and supervisors in preventing incidents, ensuring training, and creating a supportive environment for reporting concerns. Overall, it is essential for fostering a culture of respect and dignity for all employees.

HR considerations

UK employment law and best practice

This template is designed to support the process, but the document should be used alongside the relevant HR procedure and applied to the circumstances of the individual case.

  • Equality Act 2010: Prohibits harassment, discrimination, and victimization based on protected characteristics such as age, race, gender, disability, religion, etc.

  • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Requires employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees, including protecting them from bullying and harassment.

  • Protection from Harassment Act 1997: Provides legal protection against harassment and includes provisions for both civil and criminal proceedings.

  • Employment Rights Act 1996: Protects employees from unfair treatment, including constructive dismissal, resulting from bullying and harassment.

  • ACAS Code of Practice on Bullying and Harassment: Offers guidelines for employers on handling and preventing workplace bullying and harassment.

  • Data Protection Act 2018: Ensures that employee data related to bullying and harassment complaints is handled securely and confidentially.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this in my small business?

Yes. This template has been designed for organisations of all sizes, including small businesses, charities and growing employers. It follows UK employment law best practice and can be adapted to suit your organisation.

Is it compliant with 2026 UK employment law?

Our templates are developed with UK employment legislation, Acas guidance and HR best practice in mind and are reviewed and updated as relevant requirements change. However, every employment situation is different, so the template should be adapted to the circumstances and checked against the employee's contract and your organisation's procedures before use.

Can I customise it for my organisation?

Yes, we highlight the areas of the document that you need to update with your own details, and where you need to make decisions to suit your situation. This saves you time and ensures that you meet best practice.

Do I get instant access to it?

Yes. Once purchased, you'll be able to download it instantly. Templates are provided in editable format (such as .doc or .xls) so you can customise them easily, and in PDF format for easy sharing.

What if I need more help, not just this template?

If you're looking for broader support, we also offer toolkits and library bundles that include the Bullying and harassment policy template, along with other HR templates and policies for fully managing your situation. These may be more cost-effective if you need deeper advice.

Why should I use this Bullying and harassment policy template, and not AI to generate it?

AI can produce a document quickly, but effective HR documentation needs to be more than well-written words. It needs to reflect relevant UK employment law, HR best practice, practical considerations and the circumstances in which it will be used. These resources have been professionally developed around that wider HR context, drawing on extensive practical experience, rather than simply generating a generic document from a prompt.

How this content is developed and reviewed

The Bullying and harassment policy template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.

About the author

Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director

Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.

He has extensive practical experience of managing equal opportunities processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.

HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.

Executive recommendation

"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."

"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."

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Ruth Brock Chief Executive Officer The Hygiene Bank
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