This week marks anti-bullying week in the UK, and while we tend to think bullying might take place predominantly at schools and amongst young people, the workplace is also a common environment to experience unfair treatment.
A survey conducted by SME Loans in 2019 found that 23% of British workers had been bullied at work, and a further 12% admitted to struggling to make friends in the workplace. In light of these statistics, it’s important to not only be able to identify what constitutes workplace bullying but also what to do if you’re experiencing it, and how to help others.
What is workplace bullying?
Workplace bullying can take many different forms; harassment, discrimination, belittling and constant criticism are just a few common actions that can lead to an employee feeling bullied and lonely at work.
However, there are more subtle actions that can also be harmful to an employee’s mental health. Examples of these are being left out of work meetings and social activities, receiving more or excessive performance monitoring compared to your colleagues, and being the target of jokes or constant teasing.
In situations where monitoring and criticism are constructive, helpful and delivered in a professional manner, these actions wouldn’t be considered bullying. However, behaviour that is targeted, intimidating or consistent would be and is a real cause for concern.
When these types of actions form a pattern, and are directed at the same person or people, then it needs to be addressed and if necessary, have the correct action taken.
Who experiences workplace bullying?
Any individual in a working environment can experience bullying at work, not only junior or new member of staff, but those working in senior roles too.
Common types of workplace bullying from more senior employees or management include preventing personal progression by giving negative feedback, neglecting junior members of the team by not dedicating time to or supporting them, and abusing their position of power by threatening job security.
Workplace bullying can also take place between colleagues and from junior members of staff to their manager. Spreading gossip, unwarranted criticism as well as sabotage are examples of workplace bullying that can take place between employees who work on the same or a similar level.
Whereas managers can feel they are being bullied by junior members of their team who act in a disrespectful manner towards them, refuse to complete tasks, or make remarks in front of other members of the team or senior management in an attempt to make them look bad.
7 steps to deal with workplace bullying
If you think you are being bullied at work, it is normal to feel helpless and out of control. Common advice for people experiencing bullying behaviour is to ignore it, walk away and be the bigger person.
However, experiencing bullying in any form can be traumatic and it is important to preserve your own mental health before trying to find a solution or confront the bully.
If ignoring their actions and removing yourself from certain situations is not possible or has not shown an effect, then here are 7 steps you can take to help preserve your own mental health and eventually, diffuse the situation.
First and foremost, remind yourself that it is not your fault and the actions of someone else do not undermine your credibility as an employee or as a person.
If you start to notice unfair behaviour from someone at work, document details of any incidents including the date and time, location and any other people that were present. Information like this will help further down the line if you choose to make a formal complaint.
If you can, save any physical proof of communication between you and the bully, such as email exchanges, written feedback or notes that you have received and keep them in a safe place.
Where possible, do some research into your companies policies and find out who to speak to and how to make more formal complaints. Your employee contract or handbook is a good place to start.
If you already know the procedure and who is in charge, seek their advice. It could be your line manager or a member of the HR department.
In situations where you don’t feel comfortable approaching HR, reach out to anyone within your working environment who you trust. They might be able to point you in the right direction and if not, it’s helpful to have a confidant who can support you in any way during this time.
In extreme situations where you feel powerless and out of options, seek professional advice from organisations like the National Bullying Helpline or ACAS. It might be preferable to reach out to external professional services who can give advice and help raise a formal grievance.
Experiencing bullying from a manager or colleague can also lead to individuals feeling anxious or stressed. If you are feeling anxious about a situation at work, read our guide to dealing with workplace anxiety or take a look at some relaxation techniques to relieve stress.
4 steps to help someone who is experiencing workplace bullying
If you have witnessed workplace bullying, or have been confided in by a colleague or friend, there are ways you can help without getting too involved and caught up in the situation.
The most important thing you can do is check in with your colleague if you think they are being treated unfairly. Make sure they are ok and have someone to support them if they are going through a traumatic time at work.
Remind your colleague that you are there to listen and help in any way you can. Being bullied can feel isolating and lonely, and it might be the case that they only feel comfortable confiding in you, so it is important that they feel supported and listened to.
If you have been confided in, we recommend keeping any information or details confidential in respect of your colleague, and so as not to harm any complaint or investigation process.
In some cases, it might be necessary for you to help your colleague report any incidents, or indeed report them on their behalf. Approach these situations with caution and only act if you have been asked to.
Dealing with traumatic situations at work, including experiencing or witnessing workplace bullying, can lead to employees feeling stressed and unhappy. At Calmer, we provide a range of resources, training courses and webinars that can help you to nurture a mentally healthy company culture and boost employee wellbeing, from our Remote Working Training solutions to our Calmer Community Membership.
If you or a colleague is experiencing uncomfortable and unfair treatment at work, a key thing to remember is that you are not at fault, and there are professionals and organisations that can help. Bullying is a cowardly way to act, and the behaviour of a bully could be saying a lot more about their own personal issues than anything to do with you.
Always remember to take care of your mental health and safety first, before thinking about the next step.
There are a wealth of resources available if you or someone you know is being bullied at work. Below are just a few suggestions of organisations that can help: