Post office survey reveals bullying culture

A survey of post office managers by their union Amicus-MSF shows most have experienced problems of bullying and harassment in the past year. A third had been subjected to "uninvited sexual teasing" and verbal abuse, while almost two out of three said they had seen a colleague being bullied.

The union says the cost to post group Consignia of bullying and harassment could be up to £15 million a year with an average 51 days sick leave per victim. Two-thirds of those polled said bullying was in the form of undue pressure to complete work. One in 20 complained of uninvited pressure for "sexual favours," while others said they received letters, phone calls or materials of a sexual nature.

Amicus national secretary Peter Skyte said the company must act now, adding: "The time for further navel gazing internal reviews on these issues is over. Consignia has policies but these are clearly ineffective."