Avoiding Emotional Triggers in the Workplace Environment, Workplace Bullying and How to Make a Difference

Workplace bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm.

It can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, and physical abuse, as well as humiliation. This type of workplace aggression is particularly difficult because, unlike the typical school bully, workplace bullies often operate within the established rules and policies of their organization and their society.

In the majority of cases, bullying in the workplace is reported as having been done by someone who has authority over the victim. However, bullies can also be peers, and rarely subordinates. Workplace bullying is harmful, targeted behaviour that happens at work. It might be spiteful, offensive, mocking, or intimidating. It forms a pattern, and it tends to be directed at one person or a few people. A few examples of bullying include: Criticism or monitoring isn’t always bullying.

Although there is no legal definition of bullying, it can be described as unwanted behaviour from a person or group that is either:

• offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting
• an abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone

The bullying might:

• be a regular pattern of behaviour or a one-off incident
• happen face-to-face, on social media, in emails or calls
• happen at work or in other work-related situations
• not always be obvious or noticed by others

Examples of bullying at work could include:

• someone has spread a malicious rumour about you
• someone keeps putting you down in meetings
• your boss keeps giving you a heavier workload than everyone else
• someone has put humiliating, offensive or threatening comments or photos on social media
• someone at the same or more junior level as you keeps undermining your authority

Upward bullying

Bullying can also happen from staff towards a more senior employee, a manager or an employer (this can be called 'upward bullying' or 'subordinate bullying').

It can be from one employee or group of employees.

Examples of upward bullying can include:

• showing continued disrespect
• refusing to complete tasks
• spreading rumours
• doing things to make you seem unskilled or unable to do your job properly

It can be difficult if you’re in a senior role to realise you’re experiencing bullying behaviour from your staff. It's important to consider the real reasons for the behaviour. For example, there might be a wider issue with the culture of the organisation. Employers and managers should work together to identify the cause of the issue and address it. Harassment is when bullying or unwanted behaviour is about any of the following 'protected characteristics' under discrimination law.

• age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation

Harassment because of pregnancy or maternity is treated differently and could be direct discrimination. In some cases, the person might not realise the effect of their actions so you can try talking with them, if you feel you can.

It's a good idea to:

• explain how their behaviour makes you feel
• be firm, not aggressive
• stick to the facts

If you do not feel comfortable talking to the person face to face, you could:

• put this in an email
• ask for support from a trade union representative, if you have one

If you do not feel comfortable doing this or the bullying carries on, you should talk with someone at work you feel comfortable with. Reach out to me or the team at Roo Resumes if you are looking to leave a role because of workplace bullying or harassment at work. We are Roo Resumes www.rooresumes.com