How to Prevent Workplace Bullying (National Bullying Prevention Month)

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying occurs in schools and at work. However, workplace bullying is often discarded if it is not taken care of. Working in a negative environment can create workplace bullying which makes a person not want to work there and feel uncomfortable with everyone. Employees who work in a negative environment sometimes have a hard time reporting to Human Resources about being bullied. 

The reasons for not reporting workplace bullying are fear of losing one’s job and fear of not getting a good referral for a new job. Bullying at work occurs when an employee is intimidated by another employee usually because of jealousy, their highly skilled abilities, and their personality. This intimidation causes friction between employees. Another way bullying is done is when an employee does not get credit for their work and makes them feel like a failure among their coworkers. Also, they make negative comments which makes them feel unappreciated for their work. 

Bullying can occur in many ways which affects you emotionally at work. Approximately fifty percent of employees are bullied at work for a variety of reasons. The reasons for being bullied at work are endless. Nevertheless, workplace bullying can happen out of fear of having a higher position at work, popularity at work, and feeling susceptible to your presence. The other reasons for being bullied is because of too much pressure at the job, anxiety, frustration, and insecurity. 

Workplace bullying must not be tolerated at any type of business. All employees must be trained and informed about workplace bullying. Furthermore, avoid participating in workplace gossip and negative comments to other employees. Know the warning signs of workplace bullying. Here is a list of the warning signals of workplace bullying.

1. Gossip at work always occurs at any job. This is something that can never be avoided at any job.
2. Employees separate themselves from one employee or more because of their level of expertise in the business.
3. Saying and listening to inappropriate jokes that usually upset and hurt employee’s feelings.
4. Giving too many job duties all at once and with less time to complete each job task.
5. Inappropriate eye contact and making them feel uncomfortable.
6. Laughing at employees due to how they are dressed, their accessories, or anything that they are wearing to work.
7. Shouting, screaming, and doing angry hand gestures at an employee.
8. Separating an employee on the side and telling them pessimistic reviews about their job performance in the office.
9. Frightening and harassing employees if they do not change their work schedule or their work routine.
10. Giving employees the silent treatment.

It is a concerning issue that continues in any type of business. Workplace bullying can also lead to abusive supervision from your boss or other employees which occurs frequently these days due to hidden high-tech security cameras. Nonetheless, workplace bullying causes a lot of tension, and conflict, and makes any employee feel vulnerable. As well as making employees skip work or call in sick because of workplace bullying. Handling situations of bullying is not an easy task, but needs to be taken care of before it gets worse at the job.

Preventing workplace bullying is the key to having better working environments within the workplace. Workplace bullying can occur online and outside of office work hours. Keep in mind that there are laws that protect an employee from being harassed. Workplace bullying does not occur in every business. Nonetheless, stay alert and aware of the workplace environment. 

Employees working in a stressful environment sometimes get headaches, feel sick at work, and feel tired. Businesses must have workshops that bring awareness of workplace bullying and other forms of harassment. Always seek professional help if you are dealing with workplace bullying. Additionally, some workplace bullying can be difficult to prove, especially if it ends up in a lawsuit. Therefore, it is recommended to document any incident of workplace bullying.

Keep any evidence you might have regarding the bullying. Report it to Human Resources. Get a lawyer and notify authorities if the workplace harassment has gotten worse. Last, look for another job where you can work in a better working environment. Here are resources about preventing workplace bullying. 

Workplace Bullying-How to Identify and Manage Bullying-Healthline:

Workplace Bullying: How to Identify and Manage Bullying (healthline.com)

Workplace Bullying-Signs, Effects, and How to Cope-Very Well Mind: 

Workplace Bullying: Signs, Effects, and How to Cope (verywellmind.com)

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