There are too many reports of workplace harassment and bullying to list. It seems that at least 30 percent of managers and employees are bullied and harassed. Many critics and experts focus only on bullying bosses, but I’ve seen just as many employees and coworkers use these bullying methods as I have managers and supervisors. Gangs of managers and staff also harass and bully each other.
How can you recognize the most common methods used for bullying and harassment? The top 7 techniques I’ve seen are:
- Yelling and physical threats (overt or subtle).
- Personal attacks, verbal abuse, emotional intimidation, insults, put-downs and humiliating, demeaning, rude, cruel, insulting, mocking and embarrassing comments. False accusations (especially outrageous) and character assassination. Demeaning behavior at meetings – interrupting, ignoring, laughing, non-verbal comments behind your back (rude noises, body language, facial gestures, answering phones, working on computers).
- Harassment based on race, religion, gender and physical attributes. Sexual contact, lewd suggestions, name-calling, teasing and personal jokes (sometimes overtly nasty, or threatening or sometimes followed by laughter as in, “I was just kidding” in order to make it hard for you to fight back).
- Backstabbing, spreading rumors and gossip, manipulating, lying, distorting, hypocrisy and exposing your problems and mistakes. Anonymous attacks and cyber bullying – flaming e-mails and porn. Invading your personal space and privacy – rummaging through your desk, listening to phone calls, asking extremely personal questions, eating your food.
- Taking the credit; spreading the blame. Withholding information and then cutting you down for not knowing or for failing. Turf wars about budgets, hiring, copiers and coffee machines.
- Hypersensitive, over-reactions, throwing tantrums (drama queens, sensitive princes) – so you walk on egg shells, back off in order to avoid a scene, or beg forgiveness as if you really did something wrong.
- Dishonest evaluations – praising and promoting favorites, giving slackers good evaluations and destroying the careers of people bullies don’t like.
Most bullies use combinations of these methods.
Bullying at work creates a hostile and unproductive culture.
- There’s increased hostility, tension, selfishness, sick leave, stress-related disabilities, turn over and legal actions.
- People become isolated, do busy work with no important results and waste huge chunks of time talking about the latest episodes.
- Effort is diffused instead of aligned. Teamwork, productivity, responsibility, efficiency, creativity and taking reasonable risks decrease.
- Promotions are based on sucking up to the most difficult and nasty people, not on merit. The best people leave as soon as they can.
I’ll go into possible solutions in future posts.
See, for example: http://.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/workplace-bullying-rampant-down-under_100130812.html
Loading ...
5 users commented in " Workplace Harassment and Bullying: Recognize Common MethodsWorkplace Harassment and Bullying: Recognize Common Methods "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackWhat a lot of people don’t know is that unless a harassed employee (a.k.a. “target”) can prove they are being subjected to illegal discrimination as a protected class (race, gender, religion, etc.) there are no legal remedies and no protection against workplace harassment and bullying. Unless you are fortunate enough to work for an enlightened employer, there is nothing you can legally do to protect yourself, and lawyers will not touch it.
This year in Oregon, legislation was introduced to prohibit bulling in the workplace regardless of status, protected or otherwise (Senate Bill 727). Other states have introduced this legislation due to the tireless efforts of private citizens who have had their lives ruined by bullying behavior and irresponsible employers who will do nothing about it.
Unfortunately, the bill in Oregon is likely to die this session because there is no support for it among state legislators. However, we are mobilizing for 2011.
If you think this is an important issue, contact your state legislators and tell them so. See if there is legislation already pending in your state. If not, any citizen can request that legislation be introduced.
Good for you Pam,
At this point in the legal process, publicity, leverage and persistence are the keys.
While we’re lobbying for legal remedies, individuals need to keep their spirits up and get help planning effective tactics for their specific situations. Again, publicity and documentation can help. But it’s not easy or quick.
Best wishes,
Ben
I am a licensed nurse working in oregon. since moving to oregon i have run into several situations of workplace discrimination the bullying trait are seen in the actions of discriminator’s . i have also seen bullying in same race and same sex work situations I had a co-worker start bullying me when I was told not to give keys to the employees she wanted to go get snacks and I went with her to make sure the door was locked after this person began to attack my character she started reporting any little thing she thought i said we are both African-American she reported to my employer I have a case of discrimination pending to my employer they quickly terminated me.
Thank you for posting this. I use to work in an unhealthy enviroment where favouritism was practised (esp for her Assistant), staffs were always put down and verbally assulted with uncalled for comments by the ’so-called’ manager. The final straw was when she ganged up all her duty managers to verbally attack my section. I then realized what was going on and decided to leave, i regret wasting 3 years in that company and will never again subject myself to such bullying.
I am glad that I caught this post. I am being discriminated against at my job and it is hard to prove by law. It is shown that they arent fair but it’s not against the law, I have checked. I have been working for this company for 8 years. 3 years ago a nurse’s sister was hired for me to job share with, we all work in the same department. Now, I feel that management is trying to combine the positon to make it one position for her. she is white and all of the department is white plus her sister who has been there 20 years plus and I am black with more seniority. I feel this because their trying to downsize the department, now. And it makes sense to use 1 assistant unstead of 2 if you think about it. I have been trying to transfer, but on the other hand i don’t cause its not fair. I have been humiliated, insulted,i walk on eggs with some people, and its just very bad.i know 1 end result is to transfer, but i want to do more.
Leave A Reply