It's not possible to make a legal claim directly about bullying, but complaints can be made under laws covering discrimination and harassment. If an employee feels forced to resign due to bullying they can make a constructive dismissal claim.

Bullying includes abuse, physical or verbal violence, humiliation and undermining someone’s confidence. This can be face-to-face, in writing, over the phone or by fax, text message or email.

Employers have a 'duty of care' to their employees and this includes dealing with bullying at work. An employee who feels that they are being bullied should take action in the first place through the practice’s grievance procedure and/or by discussing the matter with the bully directly. If nothing is done to put things right, the next step may be legal action, which may mean going to an employment tribunal. Professional advice should always be sought before taking this step.

Get advice:

• DirectGov guidance on bullying at work including constructive dismissal
  
  
• Mind, the leading mental health charity, guide to bullying at work
  
  
• BVA Employment Advice (Members Only)
  
  
  • BVA Legal Advice Line (Members Only)
    
    BVA provides a free legal advice line for its members. The advice line is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is manned by a team of legal advisors, mainly lawyers, who have a range of expertise covering all aspects of the law. 
    
    Members are able to fax documents or agreements where they require advice, but advisers will not write on a member’s behalf.  All calls are treated as confidential and are recorded for future reference.
    
    The resource is for BVA members only – the phone number is available from the members section of the BVA website. A valid membership number is required in order to access the BVA legal advice line.
    
    
  • BVA Mediation Service (Members Only)
    
    The BVA free mediation service brings the parties in dispute together and helps them to reach agreement.  It is a voluntary process and issues discussed remain confidential.  The process requires compromise from both parties and often results in a better, less expensive and less stressful resolution than litigation.  
    
    
  • BVA Representation Service (Employee Members & Employee Associates Only)
    
    Legal representation is primarily to help resolve issues that arise in the workplace.  Often, issues arise through lack of communication and differences in expectation between the parties.  The representation team will be able to provide guidance and support with disciplinary and grievance issues and will attend hearings with members where required.  They will work throughout to achieve a sensible and amicable solution.  
    
    
  • BVA Guide to Contracts of Employment for Veterinary Surgeons in Private Practice (Members Only)
    
    This guide is available free of charge to members on the BVA website.  
    
    
    
• SPVS
  
  Members can contact their Recent Graduate Support Officer (RGSO), via the SPVS Office, for a general chat about your problem and the circumstances in which you find yourself. The RGSO team are experienced practitioners who are sympathetic to the needs of the employed veterinary surgeon but have the knowledge to advise them on all sorts of issues to do with, for example, employment contracts, and professional matters or just to give support at difficult times. 
  Tel: 01926 410454 or email office@spvs.org.uk
  
  
• BVNA Legal Helpline (Members Only)
  
  
  • All BVNA members have access to a free legal helpline, manned by legal professionals who will answer questions in relation to any subject, not just employment. If you are a BVNA member and you need to ring the legal help line, telephone the BVNA office on 01279 408644 or email bvna@bvna.org.uk, and they will put you in touch with the right person. You will need to have your BVNA membership number ready when using the legal helpline. 
    
  • The BVNA’s Industrial Relations Service has in the past provided assistance and advice when BVNA members have been bullied by colleagues or even their employer to ensure that this is dealt with to the best of everybody's interest in the workplace.

Get emotional support:

• Vet Helpline
  
  While there is a lot of practical help in the links above, if you feel deeply distressed or depressed by the situation in which you find yourself you can ring Vet Helpline on 07659 811 118 (local call rates apply, 24hr rapid response answer phone). Friendly people with experience of the veterinary profession are there to talk to you in complete confidence.