ABSTRACT
When the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force in 2009, the European Union's (EU's) bill of rights, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union became legally binding. The concept of a worker's dignity provided for in the Charter is a foundation of European Union laws against bullying and harassment, viewed as dignity violations. The Charter also provides that gender equality must be ensured in all areas of working life, including in matters of pay, and discrimination based on any ground. In 2000, the EU adopted two directives prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation. Both directives contain definitions of discrimination and harassment. Psychosocial risks arise from poor work design, organization, and management, as well as a poor social context of work, which may result in negative psychological, physical, and social outcomes such as work-related stress, burnout, or depression.
