Workplace bullying is a behavior that occurs very frequently within the workplace today. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute in 2007, 37% of employees reported being bullied, with 72% of bullies being bosses, and 57% of victims being women. The concept of bullying in the workplace is becoming more prevalent because of the state of the economy. Many employees that are being bullied feel like they have no other choice than to stay in these types of situations because of limited opportunities elsewhere. Furthermore, the impact of being a victim to bullying in the workplace can jeopardize a person's overall health.
Workplace Bullying Defined
Workplace Bullying is the repeated harmful treatment of an individual (or target) in the workplace through verbal abuse, work sabotage, and/or humiliation. The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) describes Workplace Bullying as "domestic violence in the workplace." This description may appear extreme; however, the behavior of the bully and the emotional implications for the victim are similar to those in domestic violence situations.
Similar to situations in domestic violence, the victim never really knows what will set the bully (abuser) off. The bully (abuser) will often apologize for their behavior, the victim forgives, because after all, they have to work (live) there. But once the victim has a sense of comfort, the cycle of abuse begins again. Consequently, the victim remains in the situation, feeling like they have no way out.
How To Recognize Workplace Bullying
Many people who are being bullied in the workplace do not realize that there is actually a term for what is happening to them. Although harassment is involved with workplace bullying, the concept is not as prevalent as other unacceptable workplace behaviors such as sexual harassment.
But the continuous nature of mistreatment provides an unhealthy work environment comparable to a person experiencing sexual harassment. Usually, the perpetrator in workplace bullying is a supervisor or someone who has the power to terminate, and this can make a person fearful of reporting the issue. Therefore, the workplace becomes a source of great emotional, social, and in many cases, physical distress.
Health Implications of Workplace Bullying
- Emotional Health. Victims of workplace bullying have reported suffering from psychological issues such as clinical depression and severe anxiety. Many victims personalize the abuse without ever really dealing with it.
- Social Health. Victims of workplace bullying are often afraid to socialize with others. This interferes with a person's natural desire to connect. The fear of socializing comes from the concern that anyone that socializes with the "target" will become a target as well.
- Physical Health. The stress from this type of work environment can also cause a person's health to decline. Physical conditions that can be related to workplace bullying are high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions. Symptoms can include nausea, headaches, tremors, and rapid heartbeat.
How to Identify When Bullying is Happening Within the Workplace
There are several ways to tell if bullying in the workplace has occurred:
- "Mental health days" off increase.
- Those same "mental health days" are filled with complete exhaustion.
- The cruel behavior is thought to be the fault of the employee.
- The workplace is a constant state of anxiety with thoughts that something bad is going to happen.
- An enormous amount of work has been completed and expectations have been exceeded, but this work is still never good enough for the boss.
- Higher management is aware of the situation and has agreed that your abuser is out of line, but still do nothing about it.
Workplace bullying is a very real problem that occurs in many organizations with limited guidance on how to fight back. Many people do not even realize that they are victims. There are several ways to recognize when you workplace bullying has occurred. Trust the uneasy feeling when something is not right. If this situation is unhealthy and reporting the situation is not an option, the best solution may be to walk away. It may not make sense to walk away from a job in a challenging economic environment, but overall health is worth more than a paycheck.
Reference
Workplace Bullying Institute (2009). workplacebullying.org
Michele Whitney - Over 10 years of diverse professional experience, PhD candidate in Public Service with an undergraduate degree in Marketing and an MBA.
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