Most people still tend to associate bullying with childhood and assume that as adults we have matured beyond such basic forms of manipulation. Unfortunately bullying in the workplace is rife and like childhood bullying can involve name-calling, physical aggression and threats. Unlike childhood bullying the skills of the adult can involve far more manipulative and damaging strategies to the point where psychological and physical health can be affected.
Every workplace has its own culture or 'atmosphere'. In some it has become accepted practice, even a rite of passage, to use practical jokes, offensive name-calling and unwanted physical contact. The problem of workplace bullying has been recognized by many organizations and trades unions to the point where policy initiatives have been introduced by some companies in an effort to stem the serious consequences to productivity and the health of the workforce.
How to Recognize Workplace Bullying
One person's playful banter is another person's bullying. However bullying can generally be regarded as negative acts directed towards another person. In the workplace these can most readily be seen in terms of:
Bullying is intended to affect people psychologically. In some settings it is directly structured as test of belonging and a (misguided) way to ensure that unsuitable people are quickly identified and excluded from that culture.
The Effects of Workplace Bullying
Bullying may occur as a result of perceived weakness (physical and/or psychological), gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or jealousy. In some cases bullying achieves its objectives to the point where the individual has to seek medical or counseling support, or ultimately leave their employment. People who experience bullying tend to suffer from stress-related disorders, depression and lowered self-esteem. For the employer the costs of bullying may be seen in terms of low morale, high rates of sickness and absenteeism, reduced productivity and a high turnover of staff.
In big complex and busy organizations workplace bullying can be difficult to spot. For some it may be easier to ignore the problem than attempt to confront it. Yet others find the concept of bullying a non-starter. Bullying, it may be argued, is a way of weak minded individuals expressing their inability to cope with the rough and tumble of life. However, the evidence to date shows that companies may be losing a great deal in terms of cash and productivity. This has resulted in a call for more sophisticated measures for detecting bullying and shows that many companies are beginning to take the issue very seriously indeed.