BULLYING

• Bullying is usually seen as acts or verbal comments that could psychologically or ‘mentally’ hurt or isolate a person in the workplace. Sometimes, bullying can involve negative physical contact as well.

• Bullying usually involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people. It has also been described as the assertion of power through aggression.

• While bullying is a form of aggression, the actions can be both obvious and subtle. It is important to note that the following is not a checklist, nor does it mention all forms of bullying. There is no way to predict who may be the bully or the target.

• This list is included as a way of showing some of the ways bullying may happen in a workplace. Also remember that bullying is usually considered to be a pattern of behaviour where one or more incidents will help show that bullying is taking place, but it may be one incident, especially one that has a lasting effect.

• Examples include:
  a) Spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo.
  b) Excluding or isolating someone socially.
  c) Intimidating a person.
  d) Undermining or deliberately impeding a person’s work.
  e) Physically abusing or threatening abuse.
  f) Removing areas of responsibilities without cause.
  g) Constantly changing work guidelines.
  h) Establishing impossible deadlines that will set up the individual to fail.
  i) Withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information.
  j) Making jokes that are ‘obviously offensive’ by spoken word or e-mail.
  k) Intruding on a person’s privacy by pestering, spying or stalking.
  l) Assigning unreasonable duties or workload which are unfavourable to one person (in a way that creates
  unnecessary pressure).
  m) Underwork – creating a feeling of uselessness.
  n) Yelling or using profanity.
  o) Criticizing a person persistently or constantly.
  p) Belittling a person’s opinions.
  q) Unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment.
  r) Blocking applications for training, leave or promotion.
  s) Tampering with a person’s personal belongings or work equipment.

If you are not sure an action or statement could be considered bullying, you can use the “reasonable person” test. Would most people consider the action unacceptable?

• Individual:
  People who are the targets of bullying may experience a range of effects. These reactions include:
  a) Shock.
  b) Anger.
  c) Feelings of frustration and/or helplessness.
  d) Increased sense of vulnerability.
  e) Loss of confidence.
  f) Physical symptoms such as:
   _Inability to sleep.
   _Loss of appetite.
  g) Psychosomatic symptoms such as:
   _Stomach pains.
   _Headaches.
   _Panic or anxiety, especially about going to work.
   _Family tension and stress.
   _Inability to concentrate.
   _Low morale and productivity.

• Workplace:
  Bullying affects the overall “health” of an organization. An “unhealthy” workplace can have many effects. In general, these effects include:
  a) Increased absenteeism.
  b) Increased turnover.
  c) Increased stress.
  d) Increased costs for employee assistance programs (EAPs), recruitment, etc.
  e) Increased risk for incidents.
  f) Decreased productivity and motivation.
  g) Decreased morale.
  h) Reduced corporate image and customer confidence.
  i) Poor customer service.