Workplace Bullying

Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers.  It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide,  It is one of the leading causes of job related deaths.  However it manifests itself. Workplace violence is a growing concern for employers and employees.

The possibility of violence is only one of the many complex problems associated with workplace bullying.  Other concerns include emotional, psychological and medical difficulties associated with such rudeness.  Associated issues include the direct impact of bullying on worker productivity and customer service.  It can seriously affect the agency bottom line through direct and indirect costs.

One approach bullies typically utilize involves undermining the good things their coworkers contribute to projects and the company as a whole.  Healthy individuals celebrate what their contemporaries accomplish, aggressive types prefer channeling their own insecurities into their interactions, belittling or outright insulting more successful types.  If an office seems unsupported or nobody takes any sort of pride in producing quality work, a bully might be to blame.

Sometimes workplace bullying can lead to workplace violence in individuals whose other unexpected factors predispose them to violence.  Long before the physical surfaces, workplace violence has already happened through words, objects and implications.

Anxiety and even hypertension may afflict bullying victims, although other factors such as genetics and lifestyle can also play a role. Managers and anyone who possess the authority and resources to address the issue might want to keep their eyes opened for an outburst of nervous behaviors if they suspect a bully is on the move.

Nobody enjoys abuse and workers should not be expected to just keep taking it if the pay is right.  Just like back in middle school and freshman year , victims will prefer anything that puts space between themselves and their oppressor, even if it means compromising their own nature.  Dependable workers can suddenly change the appearance into the unreasonable should an office bully start accumulating all their dysfunctions onto them.

Bad days happen to everyone, so little brusqueness and negative ways of thinking from coworkers is natural every once in a while.  Crossovers into bully territory are when these attitudes persist well beyond normal nonconformity and creates stress.  These individual continually steal ideas, throw down insulting language, gossip, and display other self centered, if not outright sociopath, actions.  One must also remain mindful of the difference between genuine critique meant to improve quality from a distant and a serious socialization issue that needs immediate suppression.

Obsessing over the normal pressures of work and the occasional bad day or week does not necessarily equate to bullying.  But when one person’s harsh words or deeds start taking control, that might indicate that Human Resources needs to step in to identify the perpetrator in question and refer them to the appropriate mental health services.

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