Most organisations have a problem with workplace bullying. It’s something that can happen to any organisation, no matter how big or small. Workplace bullying can have a number of negative consequences for an organisation, including decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and even legal action.
Types of Bullying in the workplace
Before we look at what we can do to stop workplace bullying, lets take a moment to look at the various types of bullying that takes place.
There are four main types of workplace bullying:
- Physical bullying – this includes any type of physical violence or aggression, such as hitting, kicking, or intimidation.
- Verbal bullying – this includes any type of verbal abuse, such as name-calling, insults, or threats.
- Psychological bullying – this includes any type of emotional abuse, such as manipulation, mind games, or isolation.
- Cyber bullying – this includes any type of online harassment, such as abusive emails or text messages, social media attacks, or trolling.
What are the consequences of workplace bullying?
Adverse consequences can include everything from productivity loss to depressed staff members. Bullying at work is a serious and widespread problem that may have far-reaching effects on an organization’s reputation, morale, and productivity.
Some of the most common consequences include :
- Decreased productivity – Bullying can lead to decreased productivity as employees become stressed and anxious. This can lead to increased absenteeism, as well as a decrease in the quality of work.
- Increased absenteeism – Bullying can also lead to increased absenteeism, as employees may take time off work to avoid the bully, or because of the stress and anxiety caused by the bullying.
- Legal action – In some cases, workplace bullying can lead to legal action being taken against the organisation. This is usually only the case if the bullying is severe, and if it has been reported to the authorities.
The impact of workplace bullying can be far-reaching and long-lasting. It can damage an organisation’s reputation, and cause disharmony and conflict among employees.
So, what can you do to stop workplace bullying in your organisation?
There are a number of things you can do to help stop workplace bullying. Here are five suggestions:
- Zero-tolerance – The first step is to create a zero-tolerance policy towards workplace bullying. This means that any form of bullying will not be tolerated in your organisation. This policy should be made clear to all employees, and enforced consistently.
- Train managers – It’s important that managers and supervisors are trained on how to deal with workplace bullying. They need to know how to identify the signs of bullying, and how to deal with it effectively.
- Encourage employees – Encourage employees to speak up if they witness or are the victim of workplace bullying. This can be done through an anonymous reporting system, or by encouraging employees to speak to their manager or a trusted colleague.
- Investigate – All reports of workplace bullying should be investigated promptly and fairly. This will help to identify the root cause of the problem, and put in place measures to prevent it from happening again.
- Take action – Those who engage in workplace bullying should be dealt with appropriately. This could involve formal disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
Workplace bullying is a serious problem that can have a negative impact on your organisation. By taking these steps, you can effectively stop workplace bullying in your organisation and create a better working environment for all employees.
Through a zero-tolerance policy and a reporting system in place, employees will feel more comfortable coming forward with reports of workplace bullying. And with training on what constitutes as workplace bullying, employees will be better equipped to deal with it if it does happen. So take these steps today to stop workplace bullying in your organisation.
There are a number of things that you can do to stop workplace bullying in your organisation. First and foremost, you need to create a zero-tolerance policy towards workplace bullying. This means that any form of bullying will not be tolerated in your organisation. You also need to create a reporting system so that employees can report instances of workplace bullying. Finally, you need to provide training for all employees on what constitutes as workplace bullying and how to deal with it.
If you follow these steps, you will be able to effectively stop workplace bullying in your organisation.
