{"id":1421,"date":"2018-08-13T11:32:45","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T01:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chrismackey.com.au\/?p=1421"},"modified":"2019-02-06T11:34:48","modified_gmt":"2019-02-06T00:34:48","slug":"dealing-with-workplace-bullying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrismackey.com.au\/dealing-with-workplace-bullying\/","title":{"rendered":"Dealing with Workplace Bullying"},"content":{"rendered":"
Bullying is a significant social problem, partly because of its harmful impact on mental health. I’m especially sensitised to this issue through my involvement in a discussion on bullying at “Unleash the Beast”, a writing and well-being symposium to be held in Toowoomba in October.<\/p>\n
I’ve seen many therapy clients with enduring psychological difficulties from bullying including anxiety, depression and trauma reactions with distressing intrusive recollections and social withdrawal. Bullying is not just a major problem in schools, but also in workplaces as I’ll focus on here. Apart from its impact on wellbeing it interferes greatly with productivity.<\/p>\n
To limit the impact of bullying it helps to clearly recognise it and to have effective individual and collective strategies to curb it. Bullying generally refers to repeated aggressive or harmful behaviour that targets an individual or group. Overt bullying includes any form of physical aggression, but also repeated putdowns, insults or teasing. Covert bullying includes spreading rumours, contemptuous looks, inappropriate pranks, excluding others or otherwise harming their social reputation.<\/p>\n
Dealing with bullying in workplaces is especially difficult if it is enacted by someone in a position of authority, such as a supervisor. Unfortunately, the most disruptive bullies in work situations, sometimes referred to as corporate psychopaths, can be rewarded for their harmful behaviour. They can resort to dirty tricks or create such conflict that others tend to withdraw, allowing them more sway. In those situations it’s important to have a number of people prepared to call out their behaviour backed by someone in authority who will uphold workplace policies on bullying.<\/p>\n
Individual ways of dealing with bullying typically involve making yourself a more difficult target. Sometimes there are ways of steering clear of the bully, or making sure that there are others around when you’re in contact with them. Bullies can be less likely to single someone out when others are present. It helps to draw on supports including colleagues, a mentor or someone in authority. It is often best to objectively document bullying incidents as they arise.<\/p>\n