Workplace bullying may be defined as the resort to unpleasant behavior from one or more colleagues, resulting in very indecorous and unpleasant actions on their colleague or colleagues. Workplace bullying has many shades. Many theories have been worked on it, and it continues to be a major topic of discussion in corporate, media, social, academic and clinical areas.
What kinds of behavior qualify for bullying?
Many behaviors qualify for bullying. Teasing, humiliating, shouting abuses at the “target”, singling them out for rapping for lack of performance –real or unreal –at the workplace, berating, uttering expletives, degrading, demeaning, ridiculing, threatening in front of other colleagues, loading them with excess or inappropriate work while other peers are not given these –these are some examples of bullying. Workplace bullying need not be done only by a superior. A peer too, can indulge in it. Overall, workplace bullying smacks of opportunism and dominance. Psychologists classify bullies in the same league as pedophiles, rapists and violent people, since this behavior is also a manifestation of a perverted mind.
What kind of person bullies at the workplace?
The most commonly accepted belief about workplace bullying is that psychologically abnormal people resort to it. They have shades of love of control, violence, forcing others into submission, and to a large extent, unbridled jealousy and sadism. They are predatory in their outlook towards work and life, and prey upon soft targets. They isolate their targets and try to deprive them from seeking remedies. Bullies are known to be people who cannot tolerate good performance from their targets. Workplace bullying is a way of “getting” at them.
Solutions
The victim of workplace bullying is indeed in a tight spot. In most cases, the bully is in a stronger position, even if theoretically he may be in the same designation. The bully is generally a person who knows how to evade situations that land him in trouble. So, the target has to approach management and HR and try to convince them about the situation. This may take time to get addressed. If the victim feels that there is no use in complaining to these people, a legal remedy will have to be sought. This is usually time consuming and complex, as it requires patience, persistence and help from other colleagues to build proof. Many people leave organizations for this reason. Workplace bullying is thus a serious corporate problem worldwide.
References:
http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/bully.htm
http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/myths.htm
