Unfortunately, cliques and bullying do not always end in middle school; workplace bullying is real and can be devastating. In fact, the World Health Organization reports that, “A negative working environment may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism and lost productivity.” Workplace bullying is detrimental to both the victim as well as the company as a whole. Employers should watch for, be aware of, and actively discourage any signs of workplace bullying.

Below are just some of the signs of workplace bullying that employers and employees alike should be aware of…

Isolation
One sign of bullying at work is when an individual is being ignored, overlooked, or isolated by a group as a whole. When this type of isolation occurs in mass, it can be a result of a bully coercing others into not talking, working, or socializing with a specific person.

Impossible Tasks
A person is given unrealistic tasks without proper resources and training and then berated when they failed to meet expectations. This can be especially blatant when co-workers commit similar or worse “infractions” or fail to meet their own goals with no negative consequences.

Deal With it on Your Own
Additional workplace bullying can occur when you file a complaint and then are told by a superior or HR that the harassment is not illegal and that you should just “work it out” on your own. Or, even more severe, is when a superior agrees that your tormentor is horrible but refuses to do anything about it.

Public Humiliation
It is not acceptable to have a supervisor yell at you or belittle you in front of others. Being treated disrespectfully, condescendingly, and insultingly are all signs of bullying at work and unacceptable workplace etiquette.

Workplace bullying can leave an individual feeling anxious, depressed, and physically ill and can disrupt the productivity of a company as a whole. It is toxic behavior that should be avoided at all costs. We can help!