Sunday, November 3, 2013

How to spot and stop workplace bullying


My Paper, Tuesday, October 29, 2013, Page A19, My Executive, Office Relations

Workplace bullying might be a grey area at times. It is defined as the 'repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more people by one or more perpetrators'.


PHOTO: Workplace bullying might be a grey area at times. It is defined as the 'repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more people by one or more perpetrators'.
Published by Albanian Screen on October 18, 2012


KUALA LUMPUR IF YOU think bullying is something that happens only in school, you're deluded.

From verbally abusive bosses to sexually inappropriate colleagues, bullying is something that we may have to face throughout our working lives.

While workplace bullying might be a grey area at times (Is it bullying if someone gets consistently overlooked for promotions or bonuses?), it can rear its ugly head in pretty obvious ways.

ARE YOU BEING BULLIED?
There is a fine line between an office bully and someone with poor interpersonal skills.

So what exactly constitutes workplace bullying? According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, it is defined as the "repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more people by one or more perpetrators". 


Workplace Bullying is defined as the 'repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more people by one or more perpetrators'.

PHOTO: Workplace Bullying is defined as the 'repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more people by one or more perpetrators'.
Posted by Mark Draughn on September 24, 2013 · 12:32 pm
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOR3M3K1q4botiY1rqelBDaHLZXbKy29SOZl1Qc08BNyRmaBs-DLpOx4mVAQSWZjeO2d0lCSFeY4Hcvmglpy-KbrEdnCQKmVfs4M-cATGmgBeqvNVat3Jvrh_0klh8wU3dgZ8906-qRk/s1600/scorpion-and-the-frog.jpg
http://ethicsalarms.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/scorpion-and-the-frog.jpg
http://ethicsalarms.com/2013/09/page/2/


For Help International School counselling psychologist Gerard Louis, the keyword would be "repeated".

"If it is a one-off act, then it might not be considered bullying," he said. People do, after all, make one-off mistakes.

Another important thing to remember is that whether an act is considered bullying depends largely on the person on the receiving end of it. No harm, no foul, right?


Any form of mental or physical intimidation in the workplace is considered bullying, and it can occur in any workplace and to just about any worker. It can go up and down, from managers down to workers and vice versa, and can be hugely damaging to an employees mental and physical state.
PHOTO: Any form of mental or physical intimidation in the workplace is considered bullying, and it can occur in any workplace and to just about any worker. It can go up and down, from managers down to workers and vice versa, and can be hugely damaging to an employees mental and physical state.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQP-qZtPRTVB83BCOlUBVwJ-jwAfFkzSmNO9OTbtmQhyG-Bt7Q6Ske61f4DOzxH8SYaPmDgVVs4FYUPV5xoIYO_N4R8IrA6ppDNQI1VXqsGpiuhocBfYjWvtQiv6lib2gSRRGYJAzYet0/s1600/workplacebully-630x230.1376010066.jpg
http://www.longhaul.com.au/managed_code/uploads/workplacebully-630x230.1376010066.jpg
http://www.longhaul.com.au/page/Worksafe_Victoria_Bullying_Act


Malaysian Employers Federation executive direction Shamsuddin Bardan said: "Some things can be considered part of working culture. If a recipient doesn't find it unacceptable, then it is fine. But if an employee feels aggrieved by it, or it is against his rights, then it is bullying."

But workplace bullying can be more than just persistent verbal abuse. Sexual harassment is also workplace bullying.

SINGLED OUT
According to Mr Louis, bullies often target victims as publicly as possible, which makes workplace bullying all the more embarrassing.

"Bullies like to perform and demonstrate their power. They often single you (the victim) out, isolate you, and humiliate you with nasty comments."


Bullies often target victims as publicly as possible, which makes workplace bullying all the more embarrassing. They often single you (the victim) out, isolate you, and humiliate you with nasty comments.
PHOTO: Bullies often target victims as publicly as possible, which makes workplace bullying all the more embarrassing. They often single you (the victim) out, isolate you, and humiliate you with nasty comments.
Picture is posted on January 20 2013 by Eleanor Goold
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4XlgH_QpeEyR5e3rifb0sxzvdTuk6XqLXdVyg6yhthv18D4OrltH22uWUz8AvHglwB-PpYEypOilzyqTWjIqRQHsOOj3d5JlV5XzNktiXtjHweY6dE0uXLuoVTshE2HboOFwJ2vce9U/s1600/How-to-Live-Courageously-and-Drop-the-Victim-Mentality-3-1.jpg
http://youqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/How-to-Live-Courageously-and-Drop-the-Victim-Mentality-3.jpg
http://youqueen.com/inspiration/how-to-live-courageously-and-drop-the-victim-mentality/


Bullies also often try to find a way to disguise what they're doing, and make it seem like it's the victim's fault, said Mr Louis.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Most of the reported workplace- bullying cases are not physical in nature - unlike those that happen in schools.

Some employees endure workplace bullying because they don't know their rights. Denying an employee a promotion and/or bonus that he clearly deserves is also considered as bullying on the employer's part.

Every company should have an induction programme to introduce its rules and regulations, working culture, benefits and employees' rights.

WHO DO YOU CALL?
The problem with workplace bullying is that over 70 per cent of the bullies are managers.

But that doesn't mean that employees should stay silent when they see it happening. Those being bullied should voice out and get evidence - a bully is normally a powerful person, so it could backfire if they confront him directly.


Workplace bullying - The first step is to report the bullying issue to the company's human-resource management (to solve the problem domestically). If that doesn't work, then the worker should report it to the government authorities. Nothing is going to change if no one takes action.
PHOTO: Workplace bullying - The first step is to report the bullying issue to the company's human-resource management (to solve the problem domestically). If that doesn't work, then the worker should report it to the government authorities. Nothing is going to change if no one takes action.
Picture is posted by crlvr from devianART, ©2012-2013 crlvr
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYxEyxuxTyoYRrtEnFeRnLFk_qA2H7gTZq9q0FSB2KLYBDmNW0XQiCpvlwh-KtjrjzV4T4LNKQigQcl_NRZaDN7jIeElZnEZlQW6bJY1xU11bt0fGbpKdX6S5Q2nIo8mR2VfPcE-mVyM/s1600/trampled_duo_by_crlvr-d57estc-1.jpg
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/196/9/9/trampled_duo_by_crlvr-d57estc.jpg
http://crlvr.deviantart.com/art/Trampled-duo-314778720


The first step is to report the bullying issue to the company's human-resource management (to solve the problem domestically). If that doesn't work, then the worker should report it to the government authorities.

"Look for people who can help, like trustworthy colleagues or the higher authorities, if it is your bosses who are bullying you," said Mr Louis.

"It is normal to feel ashamed if you are sexually harassed or humiliated in public, but nothing is going to change if no one takes action."



Reference
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