What is workplace bullying?

Workplace bullying or workplace harrassment refers to repeated, harmful, and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or a group of individuals in a working environment, causing the individual or group to feel intimidated or offended. It can take various forms, and may be carried out by one or more individuals including supervisors, colleagues, or even subordinates.

Workplace bullying can have a significant negative effect on the mental health and productivity of those involved.

People experiencing workplace bullying may wish to seek psychological help from a specialist.

Examples of bullying in the workplace include:

• Verbal abuse 

  This includes shouting, offensive language, demeaning comments, and verbal threats.

• Spreading rumours

• Intimidation

  Acts or words intended to frighten, threaten, or create a hostile or fearful work environment. 

• Social exclusion 

  Deliberately excluding someone from work-related activities, conversations, or social events.

• Undermining or sabotage 

  Actions that intentionally damage a person's work, reputation, or projects.

• Excessive criticism or micromanagement 

  Persistent or unwarranted criticism, often combined with closely monitoring and controlling a person's work.

• Humiliation or ridicule 

  Publicly embarrassing or mocking a person.

• Unwarranted blame or accusations 

  Falsely attributing mistakes or problems to a person without evidence. 

• Cyberbullying

   Using electronic communication platforms to harrass or intimidate a colleague.

In some cases the bullying happens between co-workers, and in other cases the perpetrators are the superiors or bosses, where the end result may be to pressure a worker to terminate their employment.

Symptoms caused by workplace bullying

Some of the symptoms that can arise from workplace bullying include:

• low self-esteem
• stress
• lack of confidence, security and decision-making at work
• reduced productivity
• absenteeism
• decreased job satisfaction
• insomnia and trouble sleeping
• anxiety
• irritability
• fatigue
• depression and hyper vigilance
• personal devaluation and feeling guilty
• aggressiveness
• rejection of social relationships.

Why does workplace bullying occur?

Workplace bullying can have various underlying causes, and can often arise from a combination of individual, organisational, and environmental factors. 

These can include:

Power imbalance 

Workplace bullying can arise from an imbalance of power, where one person or a group holds authority or influence over another. This power dynamics can be exploited to intimidate or mistreat others. 

Inadequate leadership 

Poorly trained or ineffective leaders may fail to set a positive example or address inappropriate behaviour, causing an environment where bullying can strive.

Organisational culture 

A workplace culture that tolerates aggressive or hostile behaviour can contribute to the prevalence of bullying. If a company doesn't have clear policies against bullying, or does not enforce them, workplace bullying can develop. 

Competitive or high-pressure work environments 

Intense competition for promotions, recognition, or job security may cause people to resort to bullying to gain an advantage.

The perpetuators, in many cases, are those with some sort of psychopathology, or toxic, narcissistic and paranoid personalities who seek to take advantage of any situation that allows them to undermine their colleagues and thus compensate for their own inferiority complexes.

Prevention of workplace bullying

It is difficult to prevent the occurrence of harassment at work by colleagues. Fostering an environment of companionship and respect at work can go a long way towards the prevention of bullying in the workplace.

Treatment for workplace bullying

The victim of workplace harassment may need psychological therapy to overcome their feelings of depression, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, among others.