The survey of 6,000 staff for trade union Unison, also found one in four workers say that staff cutbacks have led to workplace bullying - double the number from two years ago - and around half say they would be too scared to raise concerns during the period of cuts.
A third (35%) of employees are being bullied at work across the UK, with many more witnessing it (a further 27%). London had the highest number of workers, who had been bullied, or witnessed bullying - at 83%.
The impact on the health of staff is revealed, as the bullied workers say it has led to mental stress, anxiety, anger and lowered motivation. However, more than half say they will stay in their jobs and suffer in silence - compared to only a quarter of staff in 2009.
Just under three in 10 (28%) said it was because of a change in line manager, 18% said it was a change in senior line manager and 21% thought it came as a result of a recent change in job. Just under a quarter (23%) said it was because new employees are coming into the section. Only 39% are confident their organisation will take cases of bullying seriously.
The top reactions of workers who had been bullied were anger, lowered motivation, feeling undermined, anxiety or mental stress, powerlessness and isolation. More than four out of 10 (43%) of the bullied workers have looked for another job with the employer, 58% of the bullied workers have considered leaving their jobs, 53% have considered staying in their job and doing nothing about the bullying and 23% have considered legal action.
In 2009, 25% said they would stay in their job and do nothing. Of the 27%, who have witnessed bullying at work in the last six months - 47% did something directly to help the bullying stop, 23% were worried about becoming a target themselves, 18% say fears for their job security hindered their helping, 30% say it lowered commitment to their manager and 40% say it lowered commitment to their organisation. 99% did not think the bullying was justified.
Dave Prentis, Unison's general secretary, said: "Workers are stuck in a living hell, as they are faced with a double whammy of cuts and bullying.
"Our results show that bosses are failing to clamp down on workplace bullying and staff are too scared to raise concerns in the current climate of staff and job cuts. There is more pressure than ever from management and the levels of stress are soaring.
"The survey shows that in the last six months the Government's cuts agenda is hitting people hard. We fear that bullying will only continue to rise, as the cuts bite further, leading to long-term mental and physical health problems. Staff will be unable to carry out their jobs and will be pushed into taking sickness absence, so it makes economic sense for employers to clamp down hard on the bullies.
"This survey goes a long way to dispel the myth the Government is currently peddling, that there is no need for health and safety legislation. We need legislation to put a stop to millions of workers suffering in silence.
"The Government must rethink its savage cuts agenda, or see workers' health and efficiency deteriorate. It is more important than ever that workers join a union, as this may be their only point of call for help." T
he survey was carried out by the Centre for Organisation Research and Development (CORD) at Portsmouth Business School during May 2011.
The highest sector groups for bullying:
- 36% of local government workers
- 32% of higher education workers
- 33% of further education workers
- 31% of police staff
- 35% of school staff
