Bullying at school or harassment at work: who to tell, and how to start
Getting through hard times · Équipe Viatous · 4 min
At first, you tell yourself it's "just jokes". Then the comments keep coming, and so do the messages. You eat alone, avoid certain corridors, wake up with a stomach ache. At school and at work, harassment has one thing in common: it grows in silence.
According to France's Ministry of Education survey (DEPP, November 2024) , about 5% of middle-school pupils and 3% of primary and high-school pupils say they are being bullied. Behind those numbers are pupils in every school. And adults aren't spared: it happens at work too.
Recognising harassment
First, it helps to put a name on it. What makes it harassment is repetition. A one-off argument isn't harassment. Attacks that keep coming back are:
mockery, nicknames, humiliation in front of others;
deliberate exclusion, rumours;
hurtful messages, photos or comments online;
at work: repeated unfair criticism, tasks taken away or made impossible, inappropriate remarks.
If what keeps happening makes you feel bad, your feelings count. You don't have to "prove" it's serious to have the right to talk about it.
At school: who to talk to (in France)
A trusted adult : a parent, a teacher, the school's pastoral staff or nurse. Telling just one person already opens a door.
3018 : the national number against bullying and cyberbullying, run by the charity e-Enfance . Free and confidential, open every day from 9 am to 11 pm, by phone, chat or app. For victims, witnesses and parents.
119 if a child or teenager is in danger: free, 24/7, and the call doesn't appear on phone bills, according to Service-Public .
And if you're a witness: don't laugh, don't share, check in with the person being targeted, tell an adult. That's often what turns things around.
If you're a parent
Children who are bullied rarely bring it up themselves. Some signs can be a warning: not wanting to go to school, stomach aches in the morning, slipping grades, a phone they hide, damaged belongings. If you have a doubt, open the door without interrogating: "You seem tired lately, do you want to talk about it?" Listen without brushing it off or getting angry, then contact the school together. 3018 also takes calls from parents.
At work: who can help (in France)
According to Service-Public , several people can be alerted about workplace bullying:
The occupational doctor , who also plays a role in preventing harassment;
Staff representatives or the works council (CSE) ;
The labour inspectorate , which can investigate.
If the harassment is sexual or linked to discrimination (origin, sex, disability…), the Défenseur des droits (France's rights ombudsman) can also step in, and using it is free. You can reach it on 3928 or at antidiscriminations.fr (see also Service-Public ). They're best placed to advise you on next steps. Outside France, look for your country's equivalent bodies.
Taking the first step
Pick one person , not necessarily the "right" one first time. What matters is starting.
Prepare one sentence : "For a few weeks now, something has been happening that's hurting me."
Don't stay alone : harassment isolates, connection protects.
Viatous: talking with other adults who've been through it
After harassment at work, or when your child is being bullied, it can feel as if you're the only one going through it. You almost never are. On Viatous, adults can write, for example: "Talk about the harassment I'm facing at work with people who've been through it" , or "Talk with other parents whose child is being bullied at school." Viatous looks for a small group of 2 to 4 people: a request for support with a personal difficulty is directed to a support Room, for adults 18 and over, with a reinforced frame. Roomi, the Viatous robot, goes over the rules and gives everyone their turn. You show up with your first name, the camera is optional, and you can leave at any time.
If you're under 18, support Rooms aren't open to you: 3018 and a trusted adult are the right people to turn to. And for everyone, Viatous doesn't replace these services or a professional, and it isn't a way to report anything. But sometimes breaking the silence starts with one sentence, said to people who get it. More on our Safety page.
Numbers to keep close
Immediate danger in France: call 17 (police) or 112 . If you can't speak, text 114 . Outside France, contact the emergency services in your country.
Bullying at school and cyberbullying in France: 3018 , free and confidential, every day from 9 am to 11 pm ( e-enfance.org ).
A child or teenager in danger in France: 119 , free, 24/7.
Suicidal thoughts or deep distress, for you or someone close to you: 3114 in France, free, 24/7 ( 3114.fr ).