ABSTRACT
The anti-bullying movement began in Sweden. In the 1980s, Germany's Heinz Leymann, psychologist and doctor of medical science, studied worker trauma, becoming a staunch advocate of stopping bullying at work. Sweden became the first nation to have a law against "Victimisation at Work". Workplace bullying in Sweden is covered by the Ordinance of the Swedish National Board of Occupational Safety and Health, effective March 31, 1994, which contains provisions on measures against victimization at work. The Work Environment Act defines the framework for provisions issued by the Work Environment Authority. The provisions contain more detailed stipulations and obligations with reference to the working environment. The Discrimination Act combats discrimination on grounds of gender, transgender identity or expression, ethnic origin, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation, or age. The Act defines direct and indirect discrimination and harassment consistently with the European Union (EU) directives.
