Bullying is a curse to employers and employees alike. It costs employers staff, time and money and it costs employees career problems and employment issues. It’s important to know how to recognize it and how to deal with it.

Bullying basics

Bullying can be defined as abuse, verbal or physical, or any form of harassment.

The two classes of bullying are:

1. Psychological bullying. This includes:

• Verbal abuse
• Equal Opportunity issues- related abuse
• Intimidation
• Mind games
• Being given jobs which are either humiliating or ridiculous
• Social exclusion
• Withholding information required to do a job

Basic remedy: All of these types of bullying qualify as legitimate grounds for a grievance dispute.

2. Physical bullying. This includes:

• Physical assault of any kind
• Sexual harassment
• Inappropriate physical contact
• “Hazing”, a sort of initiation which involves humiliating acts.

Basic remedy: It must be understood that these situations include actual criminal behavior, and may be actionable by police accordingly.

Bullying — Self defence considerations

When dealing with bullying, the main issue for employees is to act in their own best interests.

There are several ways of doing this:

1. Keep a log of all incidents, including dates and times. Describe the events. (Important: Keep this log safe and out of reach of anyone involved.)
2. Keep copies of any related documentation, like memos, emails, etc.
3. Research and check your rights under workplace legislation and industrial law. An employment lawyer can provide good independent assessments of issues and cases.
4. Assess your chances of successfully dealing with the issues through the senior management in the workplace. If you can deal with the issues in-house, it may be the simpler and more effective option.
5. Familiarize yourself with workplace procedures so you know how to raise the matter as a grievance.
6. If you’re experiencing stress, have that fact documented by your doctor. Stress issues can be important in legal actions, as well as your health.
7. Try to develop a support network to counter any attempts to manipulate others in the workplace by the bullies. People in the workplace having local knowledge can be particularly helpful. Bullies are often very unpopular, and have a track record which can be used against them.

This information, your management contacts and the advice you receive can be used to build a working method for ending the problem. Your support network can often also help with advice and local knowledge.

Remember — Every employee survey conducted around the world in recent times identifies bullying as a major issue in the workplace. You must do things properly to get anywhere in solving a bullying situation. The problem can only be finally shut down by management.

Mistakes to avoid

There are several major “Don’ts” when dealing with bullies:

Don’t overreact: However much you’d like to retaliate, don’t. If you do, you’re weakening your own case, and you could get yourself in trouble, too.

Don’t try to tolerate the intolerable: Don’t remain in a situation where the stress is unmanageable.

The basic approach:

• Know your rights, and how to enforce them
• Stay focused on solving the problems
• Put your best interests ahead of your emotions