Workplace bullying, such as verbal abuse, nonverbal abuse, and physical abuse, is far too common these days. Approximately 19 percent of U.S. adults experience workplace bullying while 60.3 million workers are victims of workplace harassment.
Based on a survey of 1,229 workers, only four percent said they never experienced bullying at work, meaning 96 percent reported being bullied at work by someone else.
Don't think that bullying is only perpetrated by people in positions of power, like a boss or manager. 25% of respondents in that same survey claimed to have been bullied by a co-worker or peer.
Workplace bullying: How do you handle it?
Check the policy of your company.
It is important to research your company's policies in order to determine the proper protocol for reporting workplace bullying. Such behavior isn't tolerated in many organizations, which includes reporting policies.
Discuss putting in place a new company policy to protect employees from abuse with your manager or HR department if your organization doesn't currently have a policy or the current policy needs to be updated.
Take a breath.
Consider how you could deal with a bullying situation at work. Your response to the situation depends on how calm and grounded you are.
Keep in mind that mistakes are made by people. Make a decision about whether the "bullying" happened only once or if it's a sign that abuse and harassment are going to continue.
You should speak to your manager or HR.
You can talk to your manager or supervisor about the next steps if you are not comfortable with talking to the person directly.
A manager who bullies you or you feel uncomfortable speaking with can be dealt with through human resources (HR) or by a person more senior to them.
Note what has happened and how it impacts you, and use your notes as a guide. Mediation is often HR's method of resolving issues. If someone is bullying you, they may be warned in writing or fired altogether.
Don't take this personally.
Do your best not to take bullying personally, even though it is easier said than done. If someone is bullying you, you need to remember that their actions are motivated more by their own interests. Insecurities, jealousy, and/or a need to control are often the motivations behind a bully's behavior.
Bullies are often high-performing staff members who perform well at work. When you encounter workplace bullying, maintain healthy emotional boundaries so that you don't react or feel bad about yourself.
Seek legal advice.
Bullying is not illegal in most states, even though there are rules and regulations concerning it. It is illegal, however, to bully and harass the same person.
After exhausting all of your options, you may want to consult a lawyer if you are unable to obtain a resolution at work. Because of the costs and time required to pursue legal channels, this is usually a last resort, but it is worth considering in specific cases.
