You may have believed that workplace bullying was over for good, but it seems as though it is happening again, this time at work from grown adults. If so, you are not the only one. Bullying by colleagues as well as supervisors happens frequently.
Sometimes it is carried out as payback. Perhaps a prominent assignment that somebody else sought was given to you. Perhaps the decision to employ another person for your position was overruled by your manager. There could be a problem with persons of your ethnicity, sexual preference, or religion, according to a coworker or supervisor.
Types and Effects of Workplace Bullying and What To Do and Not To Do
Bullying at work can take many different forms. It can involve persistent taunting or exclusion from gatherings, birthday parties, or—more crucially—meetings. Your supervisor could yell at you, pick up on anything you do, or hardly ever talk to you. People might slander you or spread false rumors about you. They might even try to ruin you. Bullying may make a workplace uncomfortable. It may, in some situations, prevent you from performing your work.
Bullies with equal opportunities exist. A manager can simply be unkind to everyone. A coworker could simply be a grump. However, it is crucial to understand what you should do (as well as what not to do) if you believe that a bully is picking on you.
Avoid emotional outbursts and lash out (at least in their presence). Bullies occasionally prioritize eliciting a response. Start by trying to have a calm conversation with the offender and explain how their actions are impacting you (and/or your job). Communicate with your boss if nothing has changed as a result of that. Talk to their boss or a member of human resources if your boss is the issue. Prepare illustrative examples of the behavior and emphasize how it interferes with your capacity to perform your job.
Bullying is discriminatory if it contains racist, sexist, homophobic, or other remarks or behaviors unique to a designated class. It does not matter if the bullying is not outwardly discriminatory; you can still be the victim of prejudice.
It is a problem if you are the sole individual in your workplace who uses a wheelchair, is over 40, is female, or is not white and is being bullied. No staff member should have to put up with bullying, no matter what the cause. Researching your legal options might be a good idea if you cannot discover a solution.
