Bully. When most of us hear this word we think of the kid who stole our lunch money back in sixth grade or the mean girl who would call us names in the schoolyard. Rarely do we think of that coworker who always seems to demean us and give us a hard time, or that supervisor who discounts our opinions in every meeting. The truth is, bullies come in every shape and form and can be found almost anywhere, even in the workplace.
Bullying in the workplace is something that has been going on for quite a bit of time now, but hasn't been addressed as a serious issue until just recently. "Bullying in the workplace is increasing," says Dr. Gary Namie, a psychology professor at Western Washington University. "It affects one in six workers and is witnessed by nearly 80 percent of workers, who don't do anything about it."
Namie, who is also in charge of the Campaign against Workplace Bullying, says that workplace bullying can be defined as "the repeated mistreatment of one employee targeted by one or more employees with a malicious mix of humiliation, intimidation and sabotage of performance." Bullies come in every age, gender, and race. They can be coworkers, supervisors, customers, or suppliers and can be found in every type of workplace.
The act of bullying affects more than just the targeted employee; it affects the organization as a whole. Workers who are the target of demeaning words or acts may start to have feelings of anxiety, stress, or excessive worry. They may experience loss of concentration, depression, and maybe even have suicidal thoughts. As a result of these symptoms, employees may start lagging behind in their work, or, more drastically, experience severe health problems. These problems can cause a company to be less effective by costing it money. Instead of focusing on their organization, companies can end up spending more time and money fixing problems caused by bullying (hiring new personnel and dealing with lawsuits) than being productive.
Preventing bullying in the workplace isn't that much different from preventing it on the playground. If you feel that you are being attacked or humiliated at work, tell a fellow employee or a supervisor. If you witness one of your coworkers being treated in an unkind way, speak up for them. There is power in numbers and bullies tend to back down when they realize their victim has someone who will go to bat for them.
As of today, bullying is not illegal in the United States. There is however, a Healthy Workplace Bill that many grassroots lobbyists are trying to advance through their state legislation. Until this bill is passed by state and local governments, employers are going to have to focus on good communication and involvement in order to keep their organizations productive and bully-free. Management should be mindful of their employees and be aware of any problems that may occur. Employees need to speak up if they or one of their coworkers is being targeted by a bully, so that the abuse can be stopped before it escalates even further. A healthy work environment is critical to the success of any organization. The only thing a bully can do is pollute such an environment. Take care of your employees and your organization by taking bullying issues seriously.
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