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 Workplace bullying is a problem in nearly every workplace in the world. Some organizations face greater challenges with bullying than others, but it rears it's ugly head in most organizations today. Workplace bullying is essentially treating others with hostility. Bullying happens every day peer-to-peer, however bullying by managers towards their subordinates is an even greater problem. Most studies show that workplace bullies are managers nearly 75% of the time.
Managers bully because they enjoy humiliating their subordinates or because they are trying to increase or consolidate their power and influence within the organization. Managers tend get away with bullying because the employees who work for them are afraid to report the abuse, the culture of the organization allows bullying to be part of regular business, or because the managers perpetrate their hostile behavior within the rules and regulations of the workplace.
The following are behaviors that could be defined as workplace bullying by a manager.
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Giving an unjustly negative performance review.
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Taking disciplinary action that is unfair or unwarranted.
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Giving employees duties that are undesirable and that are beneath their level in the organization.
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Giving excessive amounts of work that is unreasonable to finish.
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Refusing an employee the assistance needed to complete their job successfully.
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Refusing to acknowledge good work.
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Taking credit for a subordinate employee's work.
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Belittling or criticizing an employee's work unfairly.
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Excessive micromanagement.
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Yelling, screaming, sarcasm or any other inappropriate verbal behavior.
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Requiring an employee to work long hours and weekends when these extra hours far exceed the job description.
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Showing favoritism towards some employees or others.
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Excluding employees from work related activities.
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Constantly changing rules and guidelines with no good reason.
Managers get away with bullying because their subordinate employees let them. Keeping notes and getting corroboration from peers in the organization will help make the case when reporting bullying to a higher ranking manager or to human resources. Organizations need to make their managers aware that bullying is unacceptable and that every employee deserves a fair and equal environment in the workplace. Workplace bullying prevention should be part of every organization's training programs.
Charlie Bentson King is a writer and producer or training videos including workplace bullying videos for TrainingABC. TrainingABC is the world's most comprehensive source of training DVDs.
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