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Workplace Bullying

The Epidemic Wreaking Havoc on Millions in the Workplace: How to Deal with It

By Janelle OuelletPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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Bullying in the workplace is alive and well and has been for decades and even longer. It's only been up until recently that this sad and tragic epidemic has come into focus in large part due to the toll it has taken mentally, physically, and emotionally on millions around the world. What is bullying? Bullying is defined as any deliberate attempt to embarrass, intimidate, devalue, or humiliate another individual privately or in public.

There are four types of bullying:

  1. Physical. This can include things like hitting, punching, kicking, spitting, and theft from a co-worker's desk.
  2. Verbal. Name calling, racial slurs, making homophobic jokes, or any sex ally suggestI've remarks on a co-worker's physical appearance.
  3. Cyber bullying. Inappropriate content via email or text messaging or the unauthorized use of photographs via the internet.
  4. Emotional. Spreading nasty rumors about a co-worker around the office. Constantly giving a co- worker the silent treatment; teasing or insults; excluding a co-worker from group meetings, office parties, etc.

This contributes to enormous amounts of stress and low productivity in the workplace.

When it starts, bullying is often subtle and obscure, which makes it harder for the victim to speak up and report it. If it does go reported to a manager or supervisor, the individual being bullied will often be accused of being "too sensitive" or simply "over reacting" to a nasty comment about their work or the way they were dressed. The victim begins to feel stupid and starts questioning their own sanity for blowing a small misunderstanding out of proportion. In many cases, this is where the bullying and harassment not only continues, but gets increasingly worse. The victim begins to feel guilty and ashamed for reporting the incident in the first place, so when the bully makes a habit of insulting another's work because they would not have a hope in hell of completing the same quality of good work, they belittle and spread malicious gossip around the office to make themselves feel superior to their co workers. Keep in mind that if you are being targeted by a bully at work, chances are that others around the office have also been victimized. Talking openly with a trusted co-worker who has had a similar encounter with a workplace bully will not only help to vent your frustration, there will also be strength in numbers. This will make your case stronger when and if you decide to lodge a formal complaint.

Try to come together to form a solution.

In many cases of bullying in the workplace, forming a solution to work together in a more civilized environment is easier said than done. Get Human Resources involved to help reach an amicable solution for all parties involved. If this tactic doesn't work and the bullying continues, your better course of action may be to take legal action against the company.

Keep a detailed description of the harassment

Keep a journal of the exact dates and times when the harassment began and how it progressed over time, and if there were any witnesses present. Make sure to document any disciplinary action taken and any changes afterward.

This will help tremendously to support your credibility if you do choose to take legal action. Though it may be a long and arduous process, you will thank yourself for taking action sooner than later.

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About the Creator

Janelle Ouellet

Enjoys painting abstract art.

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