Victoria Olsina discusses her experience with bullying and harassment in the workplace. She shares depressing statistics showing that a high percentage of employees, especially women and LGBT individuals, face these issues. However, she notes there are some options for addressing it, such as keeping a journal of incidents, informal complaints procedures, formal grievance processes, or escalating to courts, though pursuing legal action can be difficult and costly. Overall, she advocates speaking up and creating positive change through collective efforts.

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What I have learned
about bullying in the
workplace
Victoria Olsina | SEO Consultant
SLIDESHARE.NET/VOLSINA
@VICTORIA_OLSINA
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#brightonSEO

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Hi, I’m Victoria
SEO Consultant specialised in FinTech.
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& Comedian
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At the age of 11, in Argentina,
I didn’t know any women who
held professional jobs.
And then I saw this:
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We want the equalisation of
sexes
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There’s a place called London
where women can do anything
they want.
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There’s a place called London
where women are
EQUAL.
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There’s a place
called London
where I can be a
Lesbian Spice.
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Let’s go to London!
And see what working feels like for an
immigrant lesbian woman.
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The dream vs.
the establishment
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Creator: Tim Graham | Credit: Corbis via Getty Images

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I have depressing stats
for you:
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But I promise it gets better in the end.

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Almost all young women you
know have been sexually
harassed.
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Source: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/97-of-women-in-the-uk/105940/
97% of women aged 18-24.

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Almost all young women you
know have been sexually
harassed.
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Source: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/97-of-women-in-the-uk/105940/
97% of women aged 18-24 have been
sexually harassed

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Why wouldn’t this also happen
in the workplace?
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of employees have been
bullied in the last year.
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Source: https://thiis.co.uk/over-70-of-uk-employees-have-been-bullied-at-work-in-the-last-three-years-finds-new-study/
71%

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68% of LGBT people in
the UK have been sexually
harassed at work (2019).
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Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48297100
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

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1 in 2 women have been
sexually harassed at work
(2019).
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Source: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/1-2-women-have-been-sexually-harassed-work-isnt-it-time-government-did-something-about-it
Photo by Ann H from Pexels

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What are bullying &
harassment behaviours?
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Behaviours ranging from extreme
forms of intimidation, such as
physical violence, to more subtle
forms such as ignoring someone.
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It can occur without witnesses,
in face-to-face interactions, as
well as online.
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It can happen outside of the
workplace & office hours.
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For example: a work social or Christmas
party.

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Fictional examples that I
took from my imagination:
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1. Big boss from “The oldest
bank in the universe”
threatens to fire contractor
after she refuses his advances.
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2. FinTech Partner from
CryptoBros makes offensive
comments regarding an
employee’s nationality and
sexual orientation at the
company’s social party.
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3. Director of a company
constantly excludes the Head
of SEO from SEO meetings and
internal comms.
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4. During a conversation about
feminism, an external
consultant tells the only female
employee in the room to make
him a coffee.
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But there’s a place called
London where women are
EQUAL.
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the bullies
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72% of bullies outrank their victims.
It’s very likely that you are not the only victim.

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What are the chances that
you report your own boss?
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What are the chances that you
report your own boss and you
keep your job?
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Who are the enablers?
Anyone who knows and doesn’t speak up.
HR is complicit many times.
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Protected Characteristics
(Equality Act 2010):
Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage &
civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race,
religion or belief, sex, & sexual orientation.
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The more boxes you tick,
the more exposed you are to
discrimination, bullying &
harassment.
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Your options:
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1.Remain silent & employed
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I have never been able to do this.

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If you can’t speak up for
yourself:
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Support a colleague who can.
Leave an anonymous employee review on
Glassdoor.

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A bully
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2. Start a journal:
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A document where all incidents will be
recorded: date, what happened & how did it
make you feel.
Photo by Jessica Lewis from Pexels

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2a) The journal:
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It’s your main evidence & it should contain
all emails, chats & conversations that made
you feel uncomfortable.

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2b) The journal:
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It should be kept away from your
employer’s shared drive as you could be
disconnected from it at any point.

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Journal vs. the school of
professional gaslighters:
“I didn’t mean it that way,”
“It was a joke!”
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3. Speaking up:
Nobody wants to believe they are part of
the problem: Expect a reaction.
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Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

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3. Speaking up:
For your own safety have another job lined
up & savings.
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3a) Informal Procedures:
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Raising the issue with the other party &
mediation.

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3b) Formal Procedures:
Grievance Process
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When you are not happy about how your employer
handled your complaint, you can request a grievance.
An independent review by an impartial party.
THE
LAW
Formal Procedures:
Grievance Process

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3b) Formal Procedures:
Grievance Process
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When you are not happy about how your employer
handled your complaint, you can request a grievance.
An independent review by an impartial party.

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If you are dismissed for
speaking up, it could be “unfair
dismissal.”
But there’s a catch.
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If you haven’t been employed for more
than 2 years you can’t claim unfair
dismissal, unless specific exceptions:
Discrimination, health & safety, maternity,
whitleblowing, joining union, minimum
wage, working time, etc.
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Why is the law so
complicated?
I don’t know, this is your country,
I’m just watching.
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3c) Escalating tensions:
Going to court
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It could take up to 12 months.
If you lose, you have to pay the other party’s legal fees.
Work tribunals generally deal with claims up to £20k.

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Who is justice for?
If you can’t pay £200-500 per hour, you can
get free advice at FRU and ACAS.
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A very important note of
employment solicitors:
Their rate varies more depending on
location than on seniority. You can find a
better and cheaper one outside of London.
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3d) The best case scenario:
A settlement agreement
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“We will pay you to leave & you’ll never talk
about this in public.”

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Spot the toxic workplace:
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1. Job description:
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“work hard, play hard”, “good under
pressure”

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Offering 28 days holiday (inc
bank holidays) & pension is not
a benefit. It’s a legal
requirement.
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Useful “benefits”: medical
insurance & sick leave.
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2. Glassdoor reviews (bad ones)
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3. Ask in the job interview:
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Do you have an HR department? (Many start-ups don’t)
What’s your diversity policy?
How many women are on the leadership team?

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What to look for in your
contract:
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It tells you who your employer really is.

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1. If it’s not in the contract
you are not entitled to it.
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Shares, equity, bonus.

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2. Discretionary bonus:
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An incentive can’t be discretionary. The criteria
for the bonus has to be present in the contract.

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3. Sick Leave:
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If you are too stressed to work & your
company doesn’t pay sick leave, you rely on
the statutory sick pay (£90 a week).

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When they say “it’s a
standard contract”:
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“I’m not standard.”

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Beware of the consequences:
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Reputation. Economic issues.
Mental health.

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If you suspect this is happening
to you it’s very likely that it is.
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Start a journal ;).

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If you have become
“inconvenient,”
they’ll make you leave.
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Bullying & harassment are
not about productivity, they
are about control.
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If you have become
“inconvenient,”
they’ll make you leave.
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Why do you fight?
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I believe in change as result of collective
efforts.
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

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Argentina legalised same sex marriage
in July 22, 2010 & I was part of this
movement.

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Creator: NurPhoto | Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images
Copyright: Gustavo Basso/NurPhoto
Argentina legalised abortion this year &
I was part of this movement.

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I’ll tell you what I want what I
really really want
Create positive action & drive change by
using the privilege of our networks.
It’s a collective effort.
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It will take a revolution to get
rid of bullying & harassment in
the workplace.
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Say you’ll be there.
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Thank you.
Victoria Olsina | SEO Consultant
SLIDESHARE.NET/VOLSINA
@VICTORIA_OLSINA
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#brightonSEO