Preventing Workplace Aggression: From Legal Duty to Organisational Action

Preventing Workplace Aggression: From Legal Duty to Organisational Action is a half-day event exploring how organisations can move beyond compliance and reactive case handling towards proactive, evidence-based prevention.

Workplace aggression, including bullying, harassment, discrimination, cyberaggression, sexual harassment and violence, remains a serious organisational challenge. It affects employee wellbeing, psychological safety, trust, retention, culture and organisational risk.

The event will bring together contributions from academics, legal experts, occupational safety and health specialists, and organisational stakeholders, including perspectives from IOSH and Birmingham City Council. Together, we will explore how workplace aggression can be understood not only as an HR or employee relations issue, but also as a legal, psychosocial, cultural and organisational safety concern.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Professor Roberta Fida, Aston Business School, Aston University
• Professor Rosalind Searle, University of Glasgow
• Dr Sukhwinder Salh, Aston University
• Matt Hall, Associate Director of Health, Safety and Working Environment

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Speakers will discuss how organisations can assess risks, build trust in reporting systems, protect workers, support bystanders, and embed prevention into everyday management practice. Drawing on a three-year research project on workplace aggression, the event will also introduce practical resources developed to support organisations in diagnosing gaps and strengthening prevention.

A light lunch will be provided, with time for networking and informal discussion.

The event will be particularly relevant for HR professionals, occupational safety and health practitioners, people managers, EDI and wellbeing leads, trade union representatives, policy professionals, public-sector leaders and organisational decision-makers committed to creating safer, healthier and more respectful workplaces.

Join us for a practical and timely discussion on how organisations can turn legal duties and research evidence into meaningful action.