Does an employer know when they are harrassing/bullying someone?

[Putthatbookdown]

My co-workers say Management do not know but i think they do.

If it's not documented as in a complaint/grievence written it hasn't happened in law if that is what you mean?

in the real world sometime they do sometimes they don't, I was being bullied by someone years ago at work, and my manager knew this as when I started she told me to report her everything as she was sick of lossing good nurses due to this person, she had her hands tied because the woman was very careful, nothing in writing from her to her targets, no witnesses. and a run of nurses who had prefered to leave than make anything formal, just verble complaints which they didn't want to follow up.
and no lots of verble moans don't cut it as the employer would then be working on heresay so wide open to being taken to court if they took it further.
worked itself out in the end, as she made a fatal mistake, and was witnessed by our manager, and I am a PITA when someone has wronged me so lots of diary evidence.
Sometime the person who is bullying can believe it or not not even realise they are a bully (they tend to change their ways pronto when pointed out and are mortified) , some have been managed by a kindly boss who has miss managed them for years so it becomes "oh it is just their way, they don't mean it" and they have been enabled to behave like this, and tend to react in a bullying manner when disiplined and chuck their toys out of the pram, the other common bully is when someone is being bullied from above, the man kicks the dog, dog kicks cat, cat kicks mouse, that is the hardest one to deal with.
these are my observations.

Do you mean do they know they are bullying someone? I don't think they always do no. It's the same as any life situation, school, mums at the gate, etc bit you can avoid them. Plus I really think some of them think they are being clever.

My line manager was bullying me - everyone acknowledged it but him, as far as he was concerned he was 'robustly' managing me. Although everyone privately said so to me (HR, equality and diversity) no-one was prepared to pull him on it except the mediator who was brought in.

I know in his heart of hearts, my manager still doesn't believe he was bullying me.

I agree some people have no idea of the impact of their behaviour and often they are so "difficult" that no one has the guts to take them on

Presumably you mean does an individual person realise when their behaviour towards someone else would constitute bullying?

If that's what you mean, then no they don't always realise, in fact usually not in my experience unless it's pointed out to them.

I know one who is convinced that whatever he does is with the best if intentions, and people are just unreasonably touchy to be offended.

His favourite excuse is "I thought I was doing the right thing and didn't mean to offend anyone, I'm sorry if I did"

the last person to resign pulled him up on it, but when I later told him that the people he offends are resigning faster than we can find replacements, he wouldn't believe it and came over offended and aggressive.

Since he doesn't beieve he is doing anything wrong I see no chance he will change his behaviour.

Interesting - bullying is essentially misuse of power and unless they are ill I think they do , also if you tell them and they continue to do so they do know also it depends on those around and if they are prepared to make a stand but if they are being bullied too unlikely

I don't think people always do know when they are bullying someone. I had a job about 10 years ago where I was in charge of a large and important project and I remember being absolutely vile to one of the women who worked on with me on it.At the time I thought I was being reasonable and she was the one at fault for being so useless but now I look back on it with shame because I realise that I was lashing out at her because I was overwhelmed and couldn't cope.
It is slightly mitgating that I went on to have a bit of a breakdown and ended up on being diagnosed with stress induced depression but my behaviour was still unacceptable.

Yes a common one A boss etc who has been promoted above their capability and cannot cope is common. obviously you could not do your role properly which may come down to training and the fact you were promoted above your ability.Not really yourfault. real bullies do not have stress breakdowns -it is their targets that do.