Bulling : The Problem Of Bullying In The Workplace

In 2015, roughly one out of four students (22%) reported being bullied (National Bullying Prevention Center). These students develop social withdrawal, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and physical complaints throughout their primary and secondary educational years (B.B. 77). Sometimes, it does not stop there. Students that have been bullied are 2.4 times more likely to report suicidal ideation and 3.3 times more likely to report a suicide attempt than their peers who report not being bullied (National Bullying Prevention Center). Measures need to be taken so that these statistics aren’t as high and alarming. Bullying is a problem, but it is a problem that can be resolved.

Bullying in the workplace has always been an issue that has not been given much importance. It is indeed a problem that should be addressed by the concerned personnel because it can result in many health and safety issues, especially when nurses are bullied at their workplace. From the beginning of times, people who are deployed at a senior post to tend to look down upon the students or new people who have just started work. Nursing is also one of the professions in which the fresh graduates or students are bullied to the extent that they feel that they would not be able to face their seniors. They start developing inferiority complex and are unable to perform their job well. When they are taunted by their seniors and preceptors about their lack of knowledge and experience, their confidence is shattered. This implies that when they are handling a case, they are not confident if they are doing the right thing or not. In this tussle, they sometimes do not even perform the task they were really good at and put the health and safety of the patient at stake.

Bullying which is the intentional act to inflict harm, threaten or abuse of others, can range in many ways. Kathryn Hawkins on the article the Office Bully, outlines various issues of this concept. Kathryn states that sometimes people become overconfidence that they left bullies in their past lives maybe high school, but later found out the bullies have ultimately become their bosses. Secondly, bullying may occur when bullies wants to dominate and gain back their powers if they feel endangered. So they tend to overcome their fear by threatening others. Also Kathryn articulates that even the conditions of the workplace can cause bullies to abuse their targets and workplace bully can be difficult to deal with. Although Kathryn has suggested some solutions about these issues, the claim presented does not put up with the issues, rather an encouragement.

Companies may not have initiated an anti-bullying policy, since not every workplace experience bullying; not to mention, the misunderstanding of what is considered as bullying. According to Porteous (2002), “organizations without codes of conduct or policies of behavior may encourage bullying by omission;” however, the various forms of intimidation is difficult to define as bullying (Gumbus, 2011, p. 373). By the way, culture does play an important role in the interpretation of bullying.

Unfortunately there is not only bullying in schools, there is bullying in the workplace as well. These are unacceptable behaviors that arise within a workplace situation. Bullying the workplace can take many forms and it’s not easy to always identify. The Fair Work Act 2009 made recent amendments that came into effect in January 2014 to define workplace bullying as occurring when an individual; group of individuals; repeatedly behaves unreasonably towards the worker, group of workers of which the worker is a member; and the behavior creates a risk to health and safety (Le Mire & Owens, 2014). This definition focuses on three main elements of bullying behavior, it is repeated, unreasonable, and creates a risk to health and safety. All three elements must be satisfied in order for bullying at the workplace to be found. Bullying behaviors could be things that are victimizing, humiliating, intimidating or threatening, but it is not limited to just those behaviors.

Incivility and bullying differ in that bullying is often an individual or a group of person that is the object of ridicule. This individuals or groups are often targeted by another person or group. For example, LBTG groups are targets for being who they are or people of different faction/ethnicities can face bullying. Bullying is not limited to personal issue as bullying can be seen in the workplace. For example, derogatory comment toward an individual about their work/ability to perform his or her job is seen as workplace bullying (Walker, 2017). Bullying is considered doing psychological and physical harm; it creates a suffocating and unfriendly environment to be in (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin & Cardy, 2016). The hostile actions are seen as aggressive, manipulative and humiliating. Bullying in the workplace stunts creativity, lower productivity, creates a toxic culture and puts the company at legal risk if the bullying is not dealt with (Walker, 2017).

Workplace bullying is a widespread issue in which people need to be educated on in order to put an end to it. Its causes are complex and multi-faceted and yet preventable. Workplace bullying puts unnecessary strain on the employees It is the employer and organizations responsibility to provide a bully free environment for their employees. Employees should have the right to feel safe in their work environment and be free from workplace bullying. Employers need to be held accountable and have a plan in place to protect the employees from this type of violence. Unfortunately that is not always the case, in some instances the employer is the one doing the bullying. Workplace bullying carries many definitions in which will be

Some employers may be working with a bully, and not even know it. The Office Bully by Kathryn Hawkins mentions virtuous points of this concept. The issue with bullies is when you think you have escaped from them, they can ultimately return and become your boss. Although you may think they have potentially matured and progressed as people, they are actually still stagnant in an oppressing manner. In my opinion, they will use whatever power they have against you, especially if they become your boss. Kathryn Hawkins mentions alerting and effective arguments in this article. She mentions Carole’s

Australia's workplace safety laws is in need of re-examination. According to, "The race without a finishing line: legislative means for confronting bullying in the Australian workplace" (2016, p. 352) Hanley and O'Rourke disclose bullying as a "psychological hazard" in which the victims (employees) health undermines the "successful pursuit of corporate and employee objectives". Workplace bullying exists, and although underrated, Australia's organisations are at risk corroding employees self-confidence and esteem, while also costing Australian industries between A$6 billion and A$36 billion annually (House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment (HoR) 2012, 10). However, justice has provided with laws settled under

After analyzing documents regarding bullying and laws: there are defined state and nation laws which vary for different countries but based on their regional behavior they have structured, but as you told both the employee and employer are not much concerned regarding this unless and until they experience such problem. I personally feel creating awareness among all the cadre of workers would reduce the bullying percentage.

Workplace bullying is a very serious act that has a negative impact on individuals and the organization as a whole. Baack (2012), describes workplace bullying as an interpersonal conflict that is a repeated mistreatment of one or more persons (ch.7, p.19). Unfortunately, despite workplace bullying being so harmful, it is often a common occurrence. In the article, Workplace Bullying: Costly and Preventable, Wiedmer (2010), cites a survey conducted in 2007 by the Workplace Bullying Institute-Zogby; in which, thirty-seven percent of the U.S. workforce surveyed reported that they have been bullied at work (p. 36). The article also states that it is a pervasive practice by malicious individuals who seek power, control, domination, and subjugation, and the article goes on to convey information about bullying behaviors, employer practices, profiles the targeted individuals, and steps to take to prevent bullying (Wiedmer, 2010, p. 35). Bullying tactics are not only harmful, physically and mentally, to the targeted individual but is damaging to the organization and entire workforce.

Bullying often associated with one kid being cruel to another kid, evolved beyond the playground, and move into adulthood. Unfortunately, bullying has emerged into the workplace, aptly called workplace bullying. Bullying can happen at the same organizational rank (employee to employee) or involve hostility by a supervisor toward an employee (Baack, 2012). Conversely, workplace bullying is the repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators that includes threatening, humiliating, or intimidating behavior, work sabotage and verbal abuse (WBI, 2014). The article, Workplace Bullying: Costly and Preventable by Terry Wiedmer (2011), presents information about workplace bullying including

Regardless of how Americans feel about bullying, it is still a major problem today. It is very evident in the American workplace. According to an article by Cynthia Plonien, she explains that, “In a recent survey conducted by the American Nurses Association involving 3,765 RNs, 50% of the respondents reported that they have been bullied in some way by a peer…”. This means that in the nursing field alone, a large percentage have been bullied by fellow workers. Everyone is affected by this problem, and there must be a focus on reducing it.

Bullying in the workplace is the topic that Heeman has addressed and evaluated with the aid of research from additional authors. Communication plays a major role in bullying when brought into the workplace and it can continue for extensive lengths of time if not managed and handled properly. The roles of bullying are included in Heeman’s report which are the bully, the target, and the bystander. The costs on the workplace can be threatening to the staffing, productivity and the overall work environment. Percentages and research are presented proving the amount of bullying that actually takes place in the workplace. Ways to combat the bullying are introduced into the report to include understanding and taking action to stop and prevent the bullying from continuing. Heeman concludes his report by mentioning that researchers need to focus their attention on finding solutions and ways to intercept bullying to lower the statistics and ratios.

On February 14th 1999, Silvia Braun, a policewoman from Bavaria/Germany did not appear in her office in Munich. Some of her colleagues found the 22-year-old woman later in her car on a service area on a highway – she had shot herself with her own rifle. Braun, an ambitious and determined woman, had no money problems, she did not suffer from any mental illness and she was not in love with someone who did not return her feelings. What was it that had made life unbearable for her? She had been being bullied for almost one year. She felt being humiliated, intimidated and sexually molested by her superior. This case shows how disastrous and dangerous bullying in the workplace can be.