Workplace Bullying : a silent killer

People, sometimes, wake up in the morning feeling anxious about stepping out to go to work. One of the reasons of this issue might be bullying at work: Threats, harassment, ostracism, tantrums, public humiliation, verbal abuse, screaming, insults and other types of negative behaviours. The psychologist Veediasha Bekaroo, who deals with many of these kinds of patients, sheds more light on this phenomenon and gives some advice about how to tackle these issues.

Workplace bullying has become so widespread that it represents the greatest threat to success in the workplace in the new millennium. The psychologist explains that workplace bullying involves multiple, repeated, intentional acts of aggression, hostility, social isolation, or disrespect towards someone at work. “These acts often happen in person but also can occur through email, text messaging, and social media,” she explains. Veediasha Bekaroo points out that the 2017 US Workplace Bullying Survey showed that almost 60% US workers are affected by bullying at work among which perpetrators are usually male (70%) and in supervisory positions (61%), while 60% of targets are women.

The reasons behind this despicable act, according to the psychologist, are that some employees are bullied because they may be receiving a lot of praise for their work. Other reasons might include that they are intelligent, determined and creative or gaining recognition for their hard work. “As a result, they target you because they either feel inferior, jealous or the perpetrator is worried that his or her work is being overshadowed by your abilities,” she explains. Moreover, people who are introvert, submissive are more likely to be bullied at work.

Hostility at work is not without consequences. It is often a significant source of physical and emotional stress, leading to higher healthcare costs and absenteeism. Individuals targeted for mistreatment at work, according to her, can experience increased rates of insomnia and other sleep problems, gastrointestinal distress, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression and back pain.

Workplace bullying can affect family lives

Moreover, workplace bullying, according to her, most often impact family lives. “It would be very hard for anyone not to bring troubles from work to home. In some cases, a bullied victim’s partner might understand them and would be willing to support and offer moral support whilst in other cases, it might be the opposite reaction,” she explains. Veediasha Bekaroo makes us understand that the workplace bullying can also drive the calmest person to behave in a totally weird way causing an increase of abusive and aggressive behaviour at home. For instance, it might be easier for the bullied victim to vent out his or her anger towards the family, children or partner at home or would prefer to spend time alone rather than with their families.

The latter advises that a bullied victim must try not to let workplace problems affect him or her at home. “You can share the workplace problem with your family and friends to find solutions. Sharing will also a provide moral support to fight against bullying,” she adds. 

Effects on the Employers of Bullies

Contrary to the popular belief that only employees suffer because of workplace bullying, Veediasha Bekaroo affirms that this phenomenon affects also the employer, too. In addition to disrupting a peaceful work environment, the employer is also affected by the costs’ erosion of employee loyalty and commitment, poor public image and negative publicity, increased risk of legal action and additional costs to recruit and train new employees.

The psychologist’s tips for preventing workplace bullying

Rather than turning a blind eye, the psychologist suggests that employers should adopt these strategies below to effectively stop workplace bullying. Employers must start taking care of their employees’ mental state as well as the work environment. 

• Ensure workplace stressors and risks are reduced: Poorly defined roles and systems of work are risk factors for bullying. Ensure your employees understand their roles and have the appropriate skills and resources to do their jobs helps to reduce issues and conflicts that could lead to bullying.
• Develop respectful workplace relationships through promoting positive leadership styles by training managers and supervisors on communicating effectively and engaging staff in decision making. Encourage regular and honest performance feedback, provided in a respectful way.
• Provide all leaders with training to help them recognise the signs of bullying, confidently enforce anti-bullying policies, and understand that ignoring bullying behaviour will not be tolerated.
• Provide training and information to all staff on appropriate and inappropriate workplace behaviour and on what they can do to prevent and respond to workplace bullying, ensure everyone feels confident to call out bullying when they see it.
• Include bullying and harassment information in workplace induction programs.
• Implement confidential reporting and response procedures for when bullying occurs, treating all matters seriously.
• Enforce anti-bullying policies and codes of conduct including clear and operable procedures to prevent and deal with bullying should be built in organisations to support the management of bullying.
• External consultants involved in bullying interventions should adopt a neutral and impartial role.