Most public sector employers are simply paying lip-service to anti-bullying policies, according to the IMPACT trade union.
Speaking at the union's biennial delegate conference in Cork yesterday, IMPACT official Ms Louise O'Donnell urged the incoming government to insist that all public authorities take measures to create bullying-free workplaces.
Ms O'Donnell said the report of the Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying found the risk of being bullied in the public sector was 56 per cent greater than in the private sector.
"The Government set up the task force and you would expect them to be to the fore in implementing its recommendations. But so far this has not been the case," Ms O'Donnell said.
IMPACT is urging employers to adopt a three-pronged approach to tackle workplace bullying. The union says employers should agree a bullying and harassment policy with the union and sign off on the dignity at work charter; run information seminars for staff at each workplace, in conjunction with the union; and provide appropriate training to supervisors and managers.
"IMPACT has fought hard to get bullying recognised as more than a fringe issue," Ms O'Donnell added.