Workplace bullying is the persistent mistreatment of an
individual or group of individuals by one or more persons in the workplace. This can take the form of either physical or emotional abuse and can cause serious harm to those affected. It can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, physical abuse, workplace cyber-aggression and humiliation. This
type of workplace aggression is particularly difficult to deal with as, unlike the typical school bully, workplace bullies often operate within the established
rules and policies of their organisation and their
society. In the majority of cases, bullying in the workplace is by someone who has authority over their
victim and uses their position and
power to do this. However, bullies can also be peers, and occasionally subordinates.
Workplace bullying can be covert or overt. It can appear as overbearing supervision, constant criticism, and the blocking promotion chances and
may be missed by superiors, or it may be known by many throughout the organisation and ignored. Its negative effects are not limited to the targeted individuals, but can result in an overall decline in employee morale and can
even lead to a detrimental change in organisational
culture. It is one of the clear signs of a Toxic Workplace so if this happens to you, or you see it happening to others, it might be best to start looking for a new job.
