Harassment, bullying and discrimination in the armed forces
January 30, 2012
Posted by:Ahmed Al-Nahhas
We regularly get enquiries from service personnel who have been bullied or harassed, often by groups or individuals in their own units.
We might all laugh at the stereotype of the Sergeant Major beasting his/her troops, but the reality of sexual, racial and religious discrimination is no joke. Prolonged bullying can lead to serious psychological harm and has brought an end to many promising careers.
There is no need to suffer in silence. Those who feel wronged should file a service complaint with their CO within three months of any incident of harassment or discrimination. The CO is under a duty to investigate service complaints. It must be especially difficult for members of the forces, who operate in a different culture and working environment to civilians, to raise these sensitive issues with their commanding officers. It is not seen as ‘the done thing’ to complain or admit weakness, and bullying can sometimes be ignored.
The investigation will hopefully resolve the situation, but importantly this may also give the victim an extension of time to bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal if the outcome of any investigation is unsatisfactory and the bullying is allowed to continue. However, there are very strict time limits in the Employment Tribunal and anyone who has been subjected to such treatment should discuss their options with a solicitor at an early stage to avoid losing their right to bring a claim.