Employers should treat any form of intimidating behaviour seriously because it can lead to under performance at work. Harassment causes much avoidable demoralisation, stress, anxiety, increased absenteeism and sickness. Stress situations regularly go hand in hand with alleged harassment. 

An organisation's public image can be badly damaged when incidents of bullying or harassment occur, particularly when they attract media attention. 

All employers should aim to ensure that harassment, whether it is discriminatory or of a general nature, including bullying, does not occur and if it does occur to ensure that adequate procedures are readily available to deal with the problem.