Workplace Bullies, Tactics and Goals to Survive

Workplace bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm.[1]  It can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, physical abuse and humiliation. This type of workplace aggression is particularly difficult because, unlike the typical school bully, workplace bullies often operate within the established rules and policies of their organization and their society. In the majority of cases, bullying in the workplace is reported as having been by someone who has authority over their victim. However, bullies can also be peers, and occasionally subordinates.[2] Research has also investigated the impact of the larger organizational context on bullying as well as the group-level processes that impact on the incidence and maintenance of bullying behaviour.[3] Bullying can be covert or overt. It may be missed by superiors; it may be known by many throughout the organization.  Negative effects are not limited to the targeted individuals, and may lead to a decline in employee morale and a change in organizational culture.[4] It can also take place as overbearing supervision, constant criticism, and blocking promotions.[5]

Step One - Name it! Legitimize Yourself!

Step Two - Take Time Off to Heal & Launch a Counterattack

Step Three - Expose the Bully

Stress-related diseases and health complications from prolonged exposure to the stressors of bullying:

Cardiovascular Problems: Hypertension (60%) to Strokes, Heart Attacks; Adverse Neurological Changes: Neurotransmitter Disruption, Hippocampus and Amygdala atrophy;Gastrointestinal: IBD, colitis; Immunological Impairment: More frequent infections of greater severity

Auto-immune disorders;Fibromyalgia (21%), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (33%);Diabetes (10%); Skin Disorders (17%)

Nausea, Tremors of the Lips, Hands, Etc., Feeling Uncoordinated,Chills, Profuse Sweating, Diarrhea, Rapid Heartbeat, Rapid Breathing, Elevated Blood Pressure, Chest Pain, Uncontrollable Crying, Headaches; 37% of workers have been bullied: 13% currently and 24% previously;Most bullies are bosses (72%) ;More perpetrators are men (60%) than are women(40%); Most Targets (57%) are women; Women bullies target women (71%); men target men (54%); Bullying is 4 times more prevalent than illegal discriminatory harassment; 62% of employers ignore the problem;45% of Targets suffer stress-related health problems; 40% of bullied individuals never tell their employers; Only 3% of bullied people file lawsuits