False harassment claims on the rise, employers must be vigilant
Employers must be more vigilant than ever in developing and reinforcing anti-bullying policies in light of a significant spike in workplace bullying and harassment claims - many of them false, says Harmers Workplace Lawyers managing partner, Joydeep Hor.
"Employers, first and foremost, have to be conscious that it's happening more and more," Hor told HR Daily.
Claims, he says, have increased steadily over the last 10 years due to a growing awareness, improved education on the issue and an increase in avenues to report incidents. Ironically, he says, many employers that are now the subject of claims were responsible for implementing programs that saw this rise in awareness.
However, Hor says he is surprised by the dramatic rise in the number of claims that prove either to be unsubstantiated or, in some instances, completely fabricated.
"I've seen a significant increase in false bullying claims in recent months," he says. "Bullying and harassment claims [are] arguably at their highest level ever."
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