MOST of us have had a run-in with the office bully during the course of our working life, someone with the personal relationship skills of Flashman and still clinging to the juvenile behaviour of the school playground. Intimidating behaviour is on the increase in the workplace, according to a survey released this week by the British Institute of Personnel and Development. The findings show that managerial and professional staff were most likely to be victims with "a disturbing number of senior executives abusing their power". Half of the 1,000 workers canvassed said bullying by senior staff was commonplace in their organisation. Unacceptable behaviour included unfair and excessive criticism, verbal abuse in the presence of colleagues, ignoring an employee's point of view, constantly changing or setting unrealistic work targets and even physical assault.

Although legal actions are rare and difficult to win, the institute's advice is that the whistle should always be blown.