If you are bullied, insulted or obstructed at work over a long time, don't just endure it: write it down and keep evidence first, then take the complaint, police or arbitration route that fits

Cost

Free. Keeping records takes time: dates, who was present, the other person's exact words, and original chat screenshots and emails. Arbitration or a lawsuit takes months. Changing jobs is the highest cost, and whether to leave is for you to work out.

What you get

On health: three cohorts in Sweden and Denmark combined, 79,201 working people aged 18 to 65 in all. None had cardiovascular disease at the start, and they were followed for an average of 12.4 years. 9% said they had been bullied at work in the past year. Those who were bullied had about a 59% higher risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease) (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.28–1.98). Those who had experienced violence at work had about a 25% higher risk (HR 1.25, 1.12–1.40). For both, the more people experienced, the higher the risk. A Norwegian nationwide random-sample follow-up survey of 1,846 working people measured three times, every two to three years. People who were bullied were about 2 times as likely to have thoughts of suicide later (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.08–3.89). Conversely, people who had thoughts of suicide first were not more likely to be bullied later. On the law: China has no law specifically on "workplace bullying," so you match it to the specific conduct. An employer that insults, physically punishes, beats, illegally searches or detains a worker is subject to administrative penalties and must pay compensation for harm done, and if a crime is committed, criminal liability is pursued. If an employer uses violence or threats to force you to work, you can end the contract immediately without prior notice and still receive severance pay. Employers must take measures to prevent and stop anyone from using their authority or a superior-subordinate relationship to commit sexual harassment. The victim can demand that the harasser bear civil liability. Labor arbitration must close a case within 45 days from the day it is accepted, and complex cases can be extended by up to 15 more days.

Notes

Rated B because the health numbers come from follow-up records, not randomized groups, and "being bullied" was reported by the people themselves. There are four steps you can take first. Step 1, keep a record from today; for recording, see §8.41 (recording). Step 2, raise it in writing through the employer's internal channel and keep a record that you raised it. Step 3, if you were hit, locked in or insulted in public, call the police. Step 4, if you were pushed out because of unpaid wages or unpaid social insurance, handle it by §19.7 (don't sign voluntary resignation) and §19.8 (save evidence before leaving). For how severance is worked out, see §19.4 (work out N first if you are laid off). Plain cold-shouldering, exclusion and obstruction mostly don't match any one law, and what you can mainly use is an internal complaint, a transfer, or changing jobs. Arbitration takes at most 60 days from acceptance, a lawsuit in the first instance takes 6 months at least, and you pay your own lawyer. If you can't hold on anymore, call 12356 (China's national mental-health hotline) first; see §1.25 (12356). This does not advise quitting at the first insult, and the cost of changing jobs is yours to work out.

Evidence grade

B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.

Sources

1. Xu T 等 (2019). Workplace bullying and workplace violence as risk factors for cardiovascular disease: a multi-cohort study. European Heart Journal. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehy683
2. Nielsen MB, Nielsen GH, Notelaers G, Einarsen S (2015). Workplace Bullying and Suicidal Ideation: A 3-Wave Longitudinal Norwegian Study. American Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302855
3. 全国人大常委会 (2007). 劳动合同法（第三十八条第二款、第四十六条、第八十八条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2007/content_711013.htm
4. 全国人大 (2020). 民法典（第一千零一十条）. 最高人民检察院转载全文 https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml
5. 全国人大常委会 (2022 年修订). 妇女权益保障法（第二十五条）. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff808181841257210184281512de0eec
6. 全国人大常委会 (2007). 劳动争议调解仲裁法（第四十三条）. 安康市人社局转载全文 https://rsj.ankang.gov.cn/Content-2150407.html

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 19, tip 16. This section describes legal rules, mostly mainland China’s. It is general information, not legal advice; for your own case, talk to a lawyer. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer