Bullying at work diary: what to record in Great Britain

A bullying at work diary is a private, dated record of what happened, written as soon as you can. Acas suggests including what happened, how it made you feel, the dates and times, any supporting material such as emails or screenshots, and any witnesses. This guide covers Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), not Northern Ireland.

What to write for each incident

One entry per incident, starting with the date:

• When it happened: date and time, marked approximate if unsure.
• When you wrote it: kept separate from the event date.
• Where: the room, call, email thread or chat.
• What was said or done: exact words in quotation marks; mark rough recollections as paraphrase.
• Who was there: anyone who saw, heard or was copied in.
• How it affected you: kept apart from the facts.
• What exists: emails, messages or screenshots, and where the originals are.
• What happened next: your reply and any response.

Acas notes that most bullying happens out of sight and says having no witnesses should not stop you reporting it. Leave gaps visible rather than filling them in.

A fictional entry

Invented example; not a real person or workplace.

• Event: Tuesday 8 September 2026, about 10:15, team video call.
• Written: same day, 12:40.
• What happened: while I presented the rota, my line manager said “this is useless, as usual” and moved on. I am sure of “as usual”; the rest may not be exact.
• Who was there: about eight people. I do not know what they noticed.
• Effect: I stopped presenting and felt shaky all morning.
• Material: the calendar invite and my 11:05 email asking what to change. No reply yet.

Add any later reply as a new dated entry instead of rewriting this one.

Bullying or harassment? Keep the label open

Acas explains that there is no legal definition of bullying and no specific law against it. It describes bullying as unwanted behaviour that is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting, or an abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates or causes physical or emotional harm.

Harassment has a specific meaning in section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. In outline, it is unwanted conduct related to age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, or of a sexual nature, that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. Whether something meets that definition is for your employer's process, an adviser or a tribunal to assess. If a remark seemed connected to one of them, note the exact words and leave the conclusion open.

From diary to next step

1. Find your employer's bullying and harassment policy or grievance procedure, including who to contact if your manager is involved.
2. Choose the few entries that show the sequence.
3. Raise it informally if you feel able to. Acas says a formal grievance is an option if that did not work or the situation is too serious.
4. Note when you raised it, with whom, and any reply.
5. If you are considering a tribunal claim, check the time limit with Acas early; do not wait for internal steps.

A trade union representative or the Acas helpline can talk through your options. If you are struggling to cope, Acas points to Samaritans or an employee assistance programme, if your employer has one.

Keep the diary private and off work devices, and do not post identifiable details online. Before recording a conversation, consider telling the other person and check the rules that apply. Stop if documenting puts you at risk or becomes overwhelming. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. For a blank layout, see our incident log template. Kirokune can keep notes, photos, voice recordings and imported chats in date order on your iPhone; it does not decide whether something was bullying or harassment.

Frequently asked questions

Is bullying at work illegal in the UK?

Acas says there is no legal definition of bullying and no specific law against it. Under the Equality Act 2010, which applies in Great Britain, bullying behaviour can be discrimination, including harassment, if it relates to a protected characteristic such as age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Your employer's process, an adviser or a tribunal assesses that; a diary records what happened.

What should I write in a bullying diary?

Acas suggests what happened, how it made you feel, the dates and times, any supporting material such as emails or screenshots, and any witnesses. Adding the date you wrote each entry and marking paraphrases makes the record easier to explain later.

What if nobody saw the bullying?

You can still record it. Acas notes that most bullying happens out of sight of others and says a lack of witnesses should not stop you reporting it.

Kirokune helps you keep a record. It does not diagnose, decide what happened, or give legal advice.