Culture of cuts is fertile ground for bullies

WORKPLACE bullying has increased because of the recession, costing British industry billions of pounds to sort out, according to a new study.

Psychologists have urged companies to be vigilant about "negative employee behaviour" before a problem escalates into a case of bullying, leading to legal action taken by victims.

The recession had led to understaffing, increased job demands and worries about cash, so that workers' feelings were the last thing on a boss's mind.

This produced a "fertile environment" for bullying, according to a paper discussed yesterday at a British Psychological Society conference in Brighton.