101: Workplace Bullying
School anti-bullying policies are now commonplace. But what if you feel unfairly targeted by a supervisor or co-worker at your job — to the point where it’s difficult to enjoy your home life or vacation time? Bullies pressure others to isolate you, make threats or sabotage your work. Here are a few tips to combat a bully at work:
Confront, with caution. A peaceful conversation with the bully about your dissatisfaction with your treatment is in order, advises an article on SpeedUpCareer.com. Articulately express your feelings to the bully in private. If you have done something wrong and believe that’s what ticked off the bully, apologize. “A confrontation of this sort does not leave room for aggression and will mostly help the bully realize that he or she has been unnecessarily ruthless,” the article states.
Document, document, document. Every interaction with a workplace bully should be noted and all emails must be saved. The paper trail gets you ready for a formal complaint, says employment attorney Sheila Criscione in a WorkplaceViolenceNews.com article. “Be vigilant and make sure your superior and senior managers, as well as your human resources department, are put on notice of the bully behavior,” she advises. Also, document the company’s response and have a physician document your work-related stress symptoms.
Prepare for departure. Whether or not you choose to sue, conditions at work may worsen and you may want to leave your job. “There’s no guarantee anyone will do the right thing,” says Dan Elash at Leader-Values.com. Elash recommends creating a financial cushion, networking and lining up references well before moving on.
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