UK Workplace Harassment Statistics Reveal a Culture of Silence

Bullying, harassment and workplace misconduct remain far more common than many organisations are willing to admit. While businesses continue to invest in wellbeing initiatives and employee engagement, new research into UK workplaces suggests there is still a significant gap between policy and reality.

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Our latest research, featured in HR Magazine, surveyed more than 1,000 UK employees and uncovered a worrying culture of silence around workplace harm. Here is a taster of what the article explores:

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“More than half (57%) of workers who experienced bullying or harassment chose not to report it.”

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When employees stay silent, organisations lose visibility of what is really happening internally. Fear of repercussions, concerns around career progression, and a belief that nothing will change continue to prevent people from speaking up.

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The findings also revealed a major disconnect between leadership teams and junior staff. While many organisations believe their reporting culture is effective, younger employees are far less convinced.

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“Junior colleagues were twice as likely (54%) as senior leaders (27%) to say that speaking up about workplace issues is ‘pointless.’”

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This disconnect has serious consequences. It impacts retention, trust, compliance, and an organisation’s ability to identify patterns of harmful behaviour before they escalate into larger cultural issues.

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The article also explores the growing pressure on HR and People leaders to move beyond traditional open-door policies and create reporting systems that employees genuinely trust. Anonymous reporting routes, consistent case handling, and visible leadership behaviour are becoming essential components of workplace culture in 2026.

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Read the full article in HR Magazine for deeper insights into the research, additional commentary from Michelle Hartley of People Sorted, and what these findings mean for organisations navigating employee relations today.

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