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
8 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
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.
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Workplace harassment is far more common than people realize.
Sometimes it is difficult to pin down because those guilty of it either do it in packs or are subtle enough to stay hidden.
I know that one day it will turn on them , though… and I’m thrilled to know that there are people rising up against the workplace bullies and taking action.
Maybe if enough people do, the bullies will finally get the message that enough is enough.
As a new manager to an organization in Portland I was bullied by a group of staff that were used to no accountability before I arrived. They combined their efforts and told outrageous, vicious lies about me in a complaint to human resources. Human resources and my boss then asked me to resign and then when I said I wouldn’t they threatened that I would be terminated. After consulting an attorney I resigned and received a small severance.
Since then, 3 months ago, I have continued to be bullied by the same group of people. In an official letter from my former boss I was excluded, barred from going to the place I used to work (I never intended on going back thee anyway). The letter cited vague allegations about “your” [my] recent actions and communicaitons towards my former co-workers.(none of which were me)
I formerly worked in police work and I believe this is an attempt to further assisinate my character to prevent me from being able to pass a law enforcement background investigation. My career in law enforcement is now bnasically destroyed.
Any recommendations would be helpful.
I am going through the same thing, or was, I hope, was. I was a Therapist. I reported to HR and the CEO that I was being mob bullied by my supv and some of the people she supv’d. I was placed on adm leave, locked out of my ofc, told I could no longer communicate with colleagues or clients and then told that the people I complained about filed a complaint against me so I had to see their consultant. I asked why the people I complained about had not been forced to see their consultant. They told me that was none of my business. I refused to see their consultant and they fired me. They then hired a unemployment consultant firm to block my unemployment and a lawfirm to fight for them if I sued.
This is a social service agency that is supposed to help children. No wonder Chicago has a reputation for violence. Now I seriously question my field, my career. I pray. That’s the only advice I can give. Bow to The Most High and pray.
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