What is Workplace Bullying?

Summary

Workplace bullying refers to repeated behavior that intimidates, offends, degrades, or humiliates a worker, often using the bully's position, status, or power in the workplace. It can occur between coworkers or between supervisors and employees. Examples include physical or verbal abuse, exclusion, psychological harassment, assigning meaningless or impossible tasks, manipulating schedules, and withholding critical information. These behaviors can significantly harm an employee's performance, well-being, and overall workplace environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Workplace bullying involves behavior that intimidates, offends, degrades, or humiliates a worker.
• 😀 Bullying is typically repeated behavior and can involve one or multiple coworkers.
• 😀 Bullies often leverage their power, status, skills, or position in the workplace.
• 😀 Bullying can occur between managers/supervisors and employees or between coworkers.
• 😀 Verbal abuse, such as yelling or using offensive language, is a common form of bullying.
• 😀 Excluding or isolating employees is another common bullying tactic.
• 😀 Psychological harassment and intimidation are often used to bully others in the workplace.
• 😀 Assigning meaningless or unrelated tasks can be a form of workplace bullying.
• 😀 Bullying can also involve giving employees impossible jobs or unrealistic expectations.
• 😀 Deliberately altering work schedules to inconvenience specific employees is considered bullying.

Q & A

What is workplace bullying?

Workplace bullying refers to behavior that intimidates, offends, degrades, or humiliates a worker, and it is typically repeated over time.

Can bullying involve more than one person?

Yes, bullying can involve one or multiple co-workers targeting the victim.

How does power play a role in workplace bullying?

Bullies often use their power, which may be attributed to their status, skills, or position in the workplace, to intimidate or control others.

What are some common types of bullying behaviors?

Bullying behaviors can include physical or verbal abuse, exclusion or isolation of employees, psychological harassment, and manipulation of work tasks or schedules.

Can workplace bullying occur between employees of different levels?

Yes, bullying can happen between a manager or supervisor and a worker, or between coworkers at the same level.

What is an example of psychological harassment in the workplace?

Psychological harassment can include behaviors such as intimidation, threats, or constant undermining of the individual's confidence and well-being.

How can bullying impact an employee’s work performance?

Bullying can undermine work performance by causing emotional distress, confusion, or frustration, which affects the employee’s ability to do their job effectively.

What kind of tasks can be considered bullying in the workplace?

Assigning meaningless tasks unrelated to the employee’s role or giving impossible tasks that are unattainable or unreasonable can be considered bullying.

How can changing work schedules contribute to bullying?

Deliberately changing work schedules to inconvenience a particular employee, such as making their schedule unpredictable or unfair, can be a form of workplace bullying.

What role does withholding information play in workplace bullying?

Withholding vital information necessary for effective job performance is a bullying tactic that can hinder an employee's ability to perform their duties properly.