Bullying in the Workplace

“Bullying!” Something we hear throughout our years in school, with an expectation of it ending when we become adults and enter the workforce. But, what happens if it doesn’t stop, or what if it begins while in the workplace? This experience can be dreadful for anyone of any age, and equally as challenging to advocate and make the necessary changes. 

What Does Workplace Bullying Look Like?

Bullying can be portrayed differently depending on the location, workplace setting, and individuals you may work with. The foundation of bullying may resemble verbal or physical abuse, abuse of power, poor treatment, and more. This may look like a colleague or superior speaking inappropriately and aggressively, in addition to manipulation, or making threats toward others. Bullying in the workplace can be forward and visible to you and/or others, or it can be seen as passive and brushed off as “friendly jokes.” One way to detect signs of passive bullying is to check in with yourself. Are you feeling anxious before going to work (or during)? Are you feeling resistant to interacting with a specific person, or have a sense of dread when thinking about interacting with someone? If you answer yes to these types of questions, then it is important to determine the cause or trigger of this and begin to analyze what kind of working relationship dynamic is occurring in the workplace.

The Effects of Workplace Bullying

In addition to experiencing anxiety or panic when in the workplace, experiencing bullying can lead to physical and psychological problems. This may include but is not limited to, high blood pressure, mood swings, panic attacks, ulcers, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and more. Experiencing workplace bullying can also lead to difficulty concentrating, loss of self-esteem, lower productivity, networking issues, and more. All of these possible outcomes from workplace bullying can result in poor work performance, and possible termination or resignation. 

How to Overcome Workplace Bullying

If you are experiencing a hostile working environment, and/or direct abuse from a colleague or superior, the main goal is to remove yourself from the threat and release the power this individual has over your mood and mental health wellbeing. One of the main methods to help achieve this is by setting boundaries. How you approach this will vary depending on your situation, but creating and maintaining boundaries is one of the most effective ways to reduce bullying and obtain healthier relationships. This may look like removing yourself from a physical situation when you feel uncomfortable with a colleague or superior. Resorting communication to written form as much as possible, such as emailing or direct messaging. This helps reduce any physical/in-person interactions and therefore possibly reduce bullying behaviors. In addition,  documenting all communication can be helpful in the event you decide to seek further assistance with workplace bullying. 

When setting boundaries, it is important to try and also be direct and share when you feel uncomfortable with certain behaviors, and that those behaviors will not be tolerated. If these methods fail in reducing the bullying, you may communicate with higher management or Human Resources to become involved in helping strengthen the boundaries or possibly terminate the colleague or superior causing the workplace disruption. This may seem daunting, but it is important to recognize the value in yourself and your right to feel safe in your working environment. If higher management and Human resources are neglectful in their responsibilities to maintain a safe working environment, it may be important to evaluate your abilities to seek employment elsewhere. As highlighted earlier, knowing and committing to your self-worth and safety should be your main priority. This may look like seeking work in a different department or field altogether. If this is a route that needs to take place, in your search for a new workplace, it is important to interview the company just as much as they interview you. You are an asset to any company and your experience in the workplace is more important than the mission of the company. 

Understanding Your Self-Worth

Addressing work concerns and job transitions can feel overwhelming, but having a deep understanding of your sense of self and self-worth can be the key to overcoming the emotional obstacles during this journey. If you are finding it difficult to establish greater self-esteem and self-value, it is recommended to seek social and/or professional support. Through family, friends, or mental health clinicians, you can receive the support, skills, and tools to help improve a greater sense of self and improved self-esteem. These individual themes are significant in helping promote you to strive for greater goals, success, and overall better well-being. If you are feeling stuck about this, reach out for support to help achieve your goals.