Bullying in the workplace is a repeated and persistent unwelcomed action of less favourable treatment and harassment to an employee in an office. It is a behaviour that constantly intimidates, offends, degrades and humiliates a colleague in front of colleagues, customers, and clients.
Bullies in the workplace can either be supervisors, subordinators, and colleagues. And in most cases, when an employee is bullied in the workplace, it is usually because of age, sex, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, marriage and pregnancy or even physical disabilities. However, in whatever way bullying shows up, it is the responsibility of an HR professional to frown at it completely.
Some of the ways people are bullied in the workplace are:
- Spreading malicious rumours about a co-worker.
- Intimidating employees and taunting their work standards.
- Not giving employees credit for their work.
- Giving constant and unfair criticism
- Blaming without factual justification
- Threatening employees’ self-esteem in the workplace.
- Purposely excluding or isolating a coworker
- Sending aggressive emails or notes
- Monopolizing supplies and other resources
- Engaging in an excessive social bantering, teasing, and humiliation
- Deliberately insulting others and taking part in behind-the-back put-downs
Some of the adverse effects of bullying on employees are:
- It leads to the isolation of a co-worker in the office, making the person stay alone.
- It can reduce the productivity of an employee.
- It can create a toxic work environment in the office.
- It can lead to rapid employee turnover.
- It kills the employer branding of an organization.
To curb bullying in the workplace as an employee, here are some steps you can take:
- Educate your employees on how to treat each other with respect and also on actions that count as bullying.
- Encourage your employees to report cases of bullying.
- Structure your work environment to incorporate a sense of autonomy, individual challenge, and clarity of expectations. Include your staff in decision-making processes.
- Have a demonstrated commitment to what is and is not acceptable behaviour.
- Develop your skills in dealing with and responding to conflict in the workspace.
Addressing workplace bullying requires a collective effort from both employees and HR professionals. By fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and accountability, organizations can create a safe and productive environment that supports employee well-being and organizational success.
