Bullying Is A Non Physical Form Of Workplace - 1129 Words

Workplace bullying is defined as repeated, unreasonable actions, that are intended to intimidate, degrade, humiliate or undermine and which create a risk to health or safety. Sadly, workplace bullying is very common, especially for women. According to a 2014 Workplace Bullying Institute survey, 37 million U.S. workers reported being subjected to â€Å"abusive conduct.† What’s more, 69% of the bullies are men (commonly in managerial positions) and 60% of the victims are women. I am sure many of us can remember bullies on the playground, but did not consider we would find bullies in the workplace. Bullying is a non-physical form of workplace violence. Behaviors of bullies can be subtle such as gossip, social isolation, or teasing. They†¦show more content†¦Bullying causes stress, anxiety and a lowered resistance to such things as colds, coughs, flue and fever. Other reported symptoms such as: high blood pressure, migraine headaches, pains in the back and chest, hormone disturbances, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, and skin irritations. Other reactions may include emotional distress, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, impaired concentration at work, low self-esteem, or reduced work performance. Workplace bullying also affects employees who witness it. They may feel unhappy or stressed about the work culture. They may feel guilty because they know the behavior is wrong but feel unable to handle it or fearful to get involved to try and stop it. Workplace bullying affects the overall health of an organization! Individuals who are bullied spend a great deal of their time trying to gain support and defend themselves from the bullying, time that would otherwise be spent working. Often there is increased absenteeism and turnover, increased accidents, lower quality customer service, higher costs for employee assistance programs and decreased motivation and morale. It is important to clarify that just because your supervisor may be tough or demanding does not necessarily make him/her a bully. However, workplace bullying is often more than simply an interpersonal conflict; it can be a systemic problem that is the result of a poor workplace culture. All members of a workplace, including