Based on statistics, the answer more than likely is yes. Surveys show that workplace bullying happens in nearly every workplace. The Workplace Bullying Institute based in Bellingham, WA found in a nationally representative poll in 2007 that 37 percent of the U.S. workforce, or 54 million employees, have been bullied now or sometime during their worklife. When organizational bystanders are included, researchers estimate that bullying affects nearly half of all full- and part-time U.S. employees.
What is Workplace Bullying?
Workplace bullying is described as the repeated use of aggressive or unreasonable behavior (which can include verbal, physical and psychological forms) against co-workers.
Workplace bullies can be identified by the following characteristics:
- Emotional outbursts
- Misuse of power or authority
- Excluding or socially ostracizing their target
- Unwarranted and invalid criticism
- Humiliating or embarassing their target
- Intimidating or threatening their target
- Gossiping or spreading rumors about their target
How Can You Address Workplace Bullying?
Although this behavior may be immoral and unprofessional, it is not illegal. Since 2003 sixteen states, including Washington, have unsuccessfully proposed legislation to address workplace bullying. While it is unlawful under federal law for an employer to harass a member of a protected class, federal courts have not extended the law to prohibit workplace bullying toward those who do not fit into a protected group.
Unchallenged workplace bullying poisons the workplace. It is behavior that drags down morale and can be costly in innumerable ways–higher turnover, lower productivity, more sick days, more workers’ compensation claims, just to name a few. You should be proactive and take the following steps to address workplace bullying:
- Establish a policy addressing what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior
- Establish procedures to report and investigate claims of bullying
- Be on the lookout for bullying
- Take all complaints seriously
- Educate/train employees on what is bullying, why it is unacceptable, how to report bullying and job consequences for bullies.
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