The advice from the government website states (and let’s not forget that this applies equally to their own departments!):
“What employees should do if they’re bullied or harassed
Employees should see if they can sort out the problem informally first. If they can’t, they should talk to their:
- manager
- human resources (HR) department
- trade union representative
If this doesn’t work, they can make a formal complaint using their employer’s grievance procedure. If this doesn’t work and they’re still being harassed, they can take legal action at an employment tribunal.” https://www.gov.uk/workplace-bullying-and-harassment
This is great in theory, but if as a civil servant a manager bullies you and no action is taken your options can seem limited.