Is your workplace TOXIC?

Shockingly, around a third of employees have claimed to have experienced microaggression from a manager

Many of us thought we had left bullying behind after leaving school. However, it seems that the workplace has become the new playground, with research finding that one in three employees has been bullied at work.

Bullying in the workplace is rife in every industry, with women 11% more likely than men to be the victims. In fact, a Trades Union Congress poll carried out last year found that 58% of women had been sexually harassed, bullied or verbally abused while trying to do their job.

'It's a huge problem,' says Christine Pratt, founder of the UK's National Bullying Helpline. 'We've had distress calls from nurses, carers, pilots, firefighters, solicitors - the list goes on.

We often have more than 4,000 visitors to our site every day, searching for advice on how to deal with workplace bullying.' So what exactly constitutes bullying? Although there's no legal definition, it generally refers to repeated behaviour that is unreasonable or abusive. It can take place face-to-face as well as remotely, and common examples include intimidation, humiliation or constant criticism. Many victims report being repeatedly singled out for unpopular shifts or tasks. And bullying isn't just the preserve of those in power - it may come from our peers too.

Sometimes, accusations of bullying are brushed away as personality clashes by employers. But if the behaviour is aggressive, dismissive or disregards your rights or boundaries then it's a serious issue. While some bullying is easy to spot, it's frequently less tangible, and gaslighting is commonplace.