As children play in school grounds during the formative years they learn that intimidation works well and by tormenting another child it elevates their own self esteem. Grade school bullies learn the tricks that school teachers and administrators are now recognizing as negative behavior patterns that necessitate close attention.

Where are these children learning abusive, violent, and aggressive harassing tactics that make a child's school years miserable? What becomes of these bullies when, and if they ever grow up to be contributing members of society is that they become child like adult bullies.

What is Bullying in the Workplace?

The majority of bullies in the work force of approximately 80 percent are comprised of middle management bosses and less in the upper management levels and can either be male or female bullies. A person is bullied when ever the following occurs:

- Threatened by either a person in authority or a staff member
- Harassment by either verbal or non verbal methods
- Ridicule or malicious comments or behavior towards the victim
- Physical threats, or physical violence or attacks on the person or
- their property.

If the bully is a superior the victim's life can be sheer agony for the tactics used can be in the form of demeaning work assignments, unjust criticisms of job performance, an overload of work assigned, poor work performance reports or diminished responsibilities or less pay.

Bosses that are bullies are venting their insecurity towards the victim of bullying most likely because they feel threatened in some way from the productivity of that individual. It is the bully's perception that leads to ridicule, teasing, mobbing or ganging up on a person who poses the threat.

Affects of Bullying in the Workplace:

Bullying is now to the point of requiring legislation to enforce the law similar to sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Some larger high standard corporations have developed company guidelines governing codes of conduct which address such bullying tactics which are not tolerated.

All forms of bullying in a vital area such as the work environment are threatening to a person's livelihood and ability to progress in their career. Bullying in the workplace poisons the atmosphere and reduces productivity of an organization.
This type of intimidation causes depression, anger, anxiety and drive qualified experienced personnel to look elsewhere. Bullying threatens the whole organization and promotes lower productivity, higher turnover, and potential financial losses through law suits.

The types of businesses that are more likely to have a bully boss are smaller businesses and sole proprietorships where power is basically in the hands of one person or several people. Some of the more dangerous effects of bullying in the workplace when a victim of bullying takes drastic action and the results end in violent death.

Prevention of Workplace Bullies:

Besides whistle blowers an organization needs professional training programs geared at education for staff in all levels of management. Techniques that teach people interpersonal skills, role-playing, case studies, and group discussions can help to prevent bullying from taking hold in an organization.
The Human resources department of any company or business must take the lead in prevention and training to provide a safe and healthy work place for all employees.

Learn more about this author, Teris.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Do bullies still exist in the workplace??
We want to hear your view. Write now!