• EU Anti Violence and Bullying Legislationready to fight? image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Workplace violence laws in Europe stem from Council Directive 89/391 (passed in 1989) of the European Union's Law Code, which stipulates that all employers maintain "safe working conditions" for all its employees. Violence, bullying and sexual harassment are included under this section. More recently, the European Union also holds to anti-bullying legislation, which protects workers against chronic threats from other employees.
  
  

Basis

• According to the Labor Code of the European Union, all anti-violence provisions are included within any collective agreement between management and labor. Provisions must be included as part of the labor agreement. Sexual harassment, bullying and "mobbing" are forbidden in all collective arrangements in the workplace.
  
  

Bullying

• Bullying, now binding in Europe, is defined as the deliberate and repetitive assault on one's rights and dignity that leads to the breakdown of working conditions for the victim and that affects the employee's physical and mental health. Fair hearings are mandated for this, with penalties for false accusations. Anyone who is affected by bullying or any other kind of harassment or violence can consider their term of contract null and void. All employers are required to take action against anything that threatens the health and safety of the workplace environment.
  
  

Employers

• All employers must be aware of these laws, since most of the penalties against workplace violence and harassment are placed on the employer. Employers are required to train employees against bullying and other forms of harassment and make certain employees realize the consequences of any form of workplace violence. All employers must also have management programs in place for these kinds of acts. These all come under the Council Directive 89/391, which charges employers to take immediate action against any "workplace dangers," of which workplace violence is one. The law is also clear that "special classes" of people are considered vulnerable and special protections should be put in place. The law is unclear who these special classes are, but it most likely refers to groups of people who are in danger of safety lapses or victims of harassment.