ABSTRACT
Organizations are increasingly acknowledging the need to have in place proper policies and procedures to deal with cases of bullying and harassment should they arise (see also Rayner and Lewis, this volume). Refl ecting such a need and to ensure an equal playing fi eld, the social partners in Europe, represented by various employer associations (e.g., Business Europe) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) signed a framework agreement in 2007 on the prevention of violence and harassment. The agreement ensures the right of employees to fi le complaints against alleged perpetrators with the aim of having their case heard by means of an impartial investigation and, given the outcome, the appropriate actions taken (European Social Dialogue, 2007).
