Dignity Matters Report

In 2021, the Law Society appointed independent external consultant, Crowe, to deliver the Dignity Matters survey to enquire about solicitors and trainees’ experience of work environments in Ireland, specifically as it relates to bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment.

The resulting report, available for you to read in full, is a landmark milestone in the Society’s commitment to improving professional wellbeing, gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the solicitors’ profession.

• Read the Dignity Matters Report (login required)

Dignity at Work Toolkit

Law Society Psychological Services has created a Dignity at Work Toolkit in response to the Law Society Dignity Matters Report findings. This Toolkit offers legal organisations practical information on the prevention, intervention and resolution of dignity at work issues. It details best practice approaches to creating safe, healthy and respectful workplaces. The Toolkit also provides step-by-step guidance for creating dignity at work policies for all sized teams and legal organisations.

• Download the Dignity at Work Toolkit

Dignity Matters video

The Law Society has created a Dignity Matters Video to raise awareness of Dignity at Work issues in the solicitors' profession. The video was created to generate reflection on the underlying psychology of behaviours such as bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment in the workplace. It also looks at the impact of these behaviours on an individual or team, and shares ideas about how we can build positive work environments.

Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FnhopQKTas

Dignity Matters Video One: How can we understand harmful behaviours in the workplace?

Dignity Matters Video Two: What is the impact of harmful behaviours in the workplace?

Dignity Matters Video Three: How can we create workplaces that are free from harmful behaviours?

Useful links and Resources from Ireland

• Health and Safety Authority: Bullying at Work

• Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work (2020)

• Lewis Silkin: Ireland – New code of practice on preventing workplace bullying

• McCann Fitzgerald: New guidance on workplace bullying published

• Ronan Daly Jermyn: New Code of Practice overhauls workplace bullying

• Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment (2012)

• Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: Discussion Paper Workplace Sexual Harassment & Abuse (2021)

• McCann Fitzgerald: Sexual harassment takes centre stage in the workplace

• Law Society of Ireland: Employment Law Legal Guides (Bullying)

• Law Society of Ireland: Updated employment and equality law precedents

• HSE: Dignity at Work Policy

• Irish Theatre Institute: Towards a code of behaviour

Resources from other jurisdictions/professional bodies

• Law Society of New South Wales: Workplace Guide & Model Discrimination and Harassment Policies (2021)

• Victorian Bar: Internal conduct policies and reports (2021)

• New Zealand Law Society: Guidance on professional standards and reporting obligations (2021)

• Australian Human Rights Commission:  Bystander Action Fact Sheet

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development:  Managing conflict in the modern workplace (2020)

• Law Society of Scotland:  Model Bullying and Harassment Policies

• Bar Council UK:  Equality and Diversity Guides - Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying and Inappropriate Behaviours (2019)

• Deloitte: Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace - FAQ (2018)

• Deloitte: Anti-sexual harassment advisory - Helping build a safer work environment (2017)

Training

IBA Us Too? – Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession Training

Research that informs our Dignity at Work project

• Law Society of Ireland: Dignity Matters Report (2021)

• The International Bar Association (IBA): UsToo? Bullying and Sexual Harassment in the Legal Profession (2019)

• Occupational Medicine: The value of lost productivity from workplace bullying in Ireland (2020)

• Deloitte: The Economic Cost of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (2019)

• Institute for Women’s Policy and Research: Paying Today and Tomorrow - Charting the Financial Costs of Workplace Sexual Harassment

• National Anti Bullying Research and Resource Centre - A university-designated research centre located in DCU Institute of Education
  Supports

If you have been affected by bullying, harassment, or sexual harassment, you can call LegalMind

• Freephone 1800 81 41 77 to speak to a psychotherapist or counsellor
• Text ‘Hi’ to 0353 87 369 0010 (standard rates apply)
• Register for the LegalMind portal
• Access information about the LegalMind portal

Contact us

If you would like to find out more about the Dignity Matters Project, please contact ps@lawsociety.ie