Bullying? Or simply firm management?

Third Sector, 16 January 2008

It can be hard to believe that workplace bullying happens more in the third sector than in the private and public sectors. John Plummer examines the evidence for and against and looks at how one charity collaborated with a union to stand up to the problem.

In recent years, charities have been bedevilled by a reputation for treating their staff badly. Bullying, it is claimed, is more common in the voluntary sector than elsewhere. It is a damaging allegation, not least because it suggests that charities behave no better than the companies and institutions they campaign...