Workplace Bullying

What are examples of bullying?

Examples include:

• spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo that is not true
• excluding or isolating someone socially
• intimidating a person
• undermining or deliberately impeding a person's work
• physically abusing or threatening abuse
• removing areas of responsibilities without cause
• constantly changing work guidelines
• establishing impossible deadlines that will set up the individual to fail
• withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information
• making jokes that are 'obviously offensive' by spoken word or e-mail
• intruding on a person's privacy by pestering, spying or stalking
• assigning unreasonable duties or workload which are unfavourable to one person (in a way that creates unnecessary pressure)
• underwork - creating a feeling of uselessness
• yelling or using profanity
• criticising a person persistently or constantly
• belittling a person's opinions
• unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment
• blocking applications for training, leave or promotion
• tampering with a person's personal belongings or work equipment.

What can you do if you think you are being bullied?

If you feel that you are being bullied, discriminated against, victimized or subjected to any form of harassment:

DO

• FIRMLY tell the person that his or her behaviour is not acceptable and ask them to stop. You can ask a supervisor or union member to be with you when you approach the person.
• KEEP a factual journal or diary of daily events. Record:

• The date, time and what happened in as much detail as possible
• The names of witnesses.
• The outcome of the event.

Remember, it is not just the character of the incidents, but the number, frequency, and especially the pattern that can reveal the bullying or harassment.

• KEEP copies of any letters, memos, e-mails, faxes, etc., received from the person.
• REPORT the harassment to the person identified in your workplace policy, your supervisor, or a delegated manager. If your concerns are minimized, proceed to the next level of management.

DO NOT

• DO NOT RETALIATE. You may end up looking like the perpetrator and will most certainly cause confusion for those responsible for evaluating and responding to the situation.