October is National Bullying Prevention Month: How to Recognize (and Stop) a Workplace Bully

10/05/11

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time for schools, communities and workplaces to get involved and take a stand against bullying.

As you know, bullying has grown much bigger than a few “harmless” taunts from kids on the playground. It has become a type of emotional and verbal warfare that is fought at any age, in any social circle and in virtually any setting (workplaces included). And sometimes the consequences are devastating, as we’ve seen with the tragic stories of beleaguered teens taking their own lives to escape the near-constant mocks and insults.

What’s even clearer is that bullying is not some sort of harmless “acting out” that can be brushed aside. Because of electronic mediums and networks like email, texting, Facebook, YouTube videos and more, bullying can become much more pervasive than we ever imagined. We even have a term for it: cyberbullying.

What Workplace Bullying Looks Like

So what about bullying in the workplace? Is it really that big a deal? Unfortunately, yes! And we’re learning that it’s just as likely to be delivered by females as it is men. According to a nationwide poll by the Employment Law Alliance, 45 percent of American workers say they’ve experienced workplace abuse, and 40 percent of these bullies are women.

Left unchecked, bullying can deal a dangerous blow to workplace productivity, as well as the individual’s health, causing headaches, loss of appetite, high blood pressure, insomnia, depression and panic attacks.

While there are certain things the victim can do to ease the situation, it’s really the company's responsibility to be observant and responsive to the needs of their employees and the general work environment. To start, managers and leaders should be on the lookout for the top five tactics used by workplace bullies:

1. Falsely accusing someone of errors that weren’t made
2. Staring, intimidating or otherwise showing hostility
3. Discounting a person’s thoughts during a meeting
4. Using the silent treatment to isolate
5. Exhibiting unpredictable mood swings in front of a group

Turning the Tables on the Bullies

As with other forms of harassment, employers must take a clear position against bullying and communicate that such behavior will not be tolerated – at any time and in any form. Onsite training can help reinforce this position and, more specifically, educate employees on the words and actions that can get them in trouble.

At the same time, be certain that managers treat bullying (whether observed outright or brought to their attention) like any other performance management issue. Inappropriate behavior needs to be addressed immediately, with a discussion about what is expected to change and the consequences if the problem continues (from written warnings to termination).