Ugly Betty highlights new bullying trend

Workplace experts say new hit TV show Ugly Betty is highlighting the difficulties in settling into a new job.

Ugly Betty follows the daily life of Betty Suarez, a young woman from a struggling Latino family who works as an executive assistant at MODE fashion magazine.

Most of her female co-workers are more attractive than she is and often humiliate and insult her because of her appearance as a result.

Mark Higgins, head of employment at Manchester law firm Betesh Fox says:

Getting bullied because of the way you look is the most common form of bullying from the playground to the workplace. Employers must maintain certain standards if they are to foster a happy working environment. Allowing consistent put-downs and personal remarks from colleagues about the aesthetic nature of other peopleís appearance is morally unacceptable and for an employee with sufficient service, may provide the basis for a claim of constructive unfair dismissal.

However, for new employees, the scope for legal protection is limited as it is not at present possible to make a direct complaint to an employment tribunal about bullying in itself. Employees might be able to bring complaints under rules outlawing harassment contained within the anti-discrimination legislation. For example sex, age, race, religious, disability, sexuality or age discrimination legislation all contain provisions of this type. With the right legal advice, people could take a complaint to an Employment Tribunal if any of these are applicable.

Alternatively, the provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act (originally intended to provide protection from stalkers and the like) have been interpreted as holding employers responsible for bullying and harassment in the workplace. Such claims are pursued in the county courts.

Vicky Bennett, head of employment at Manchester law firm Heatons says:

There is a fine line between gentle banter and blatant bullying. Sometimes new employees are afraid to distinguish between the two for fear of being perceived as a prude or rocking the boat. Bullying and harassment can often be hard to recognise when people get a new job. The recipient may think íperhaps this is normal behaviour in this organisationí. They may be anxious that others will consider them weak, or not up to the job, if they find the actions of others intimidating. Employers should make it clear to new recruits during the induction process that bullying is not tolerated in the work place and they should have procedures in place to investigate and deal with allegations of bullying.

Gary Chaplin, director of Hitchenor Wakeford Executive Search, says:

Appearance is important to get ahead on the career ladder and first impressions certainly count. Before you start a new job you should get a good idea of what kind of culture you will be joining. If you get a job interview, make sure you take a good look at where you will be working and observe the standards set by your potential new colleagues. Differences in culture and style can be critical as you start a new job or position. The greater the differences, the more difficult it might be for you to settle down. Things that you might have previously taken for granted may not happen in the new situation, and things that others have taken for granted and expect from you as a matter of course, you may not even know about, as yet. One of your first tasks should be to try to understand and fit into the new culture within which you now need to work, so that these sorts of issues do not arise.

Some people say it takes six months to settle into a new job but I would say that most people get a good idea whether they are happy within six weeks. Many people who find themselves in the wrong job but stick with it for too long before taking any positive action.

Everyone is different, and you should not necessarily expect the new people in your working life to behave like, or have the same skills and attributes as, the people you worked with before. This is an important issue to understand, as you could easily fall into the trap of expecting your new colleagues to approach you or manage you in the same way as the previous one, only to find that his or her expectations are quite different.

Adrian Hitchenor, CEO of Hitchenor Wakeford Executive Search offers six tips when starting a new job

1) Prepare properly - research the company before you accept a new job.

2) Arrive early - donít leave it to chance to get there on time

3) Dress appropriately - consider your profession and take your cue from ambitious colleagues

4) Observe behaviour - take time to observe the cultures and behaviours around you. Living in your own bubble wonít do you any favours.

5) Speak up - donít be scared to offer opinions, ask questions and start conversations with different people.

6) Tackle issues - donít let problems fester. Take advice and seek help if you are unhappy.