Bullying at Work
Bullying in the workplace has become a serious problem in society today. It can take different forms. It can be in the form of constant yelling and screaming, extreme mental and verbal abuse, sexual harassment and in some cases even physical abuse.
Bullying used to be something that one might have expected out of school-age children-not that that’s right either, of course. But bullying has transcended to the workplace in which grown men and women, who are supposed to be mature and responsible would resort to such childlike tactics.
Unlike school bullying though, in which a child’s parent can simply move them to another school, it isn’t so easy when the person is an adult employee. They may work on a job that pays them very well and has excellent benefits, but it’s just some of their fellow employees that they’re having problems with. Besides, they may have a family they have to support and they just can quit.
As a result some may put up with such abuse for several years, even decades, if the employee is a long-term worker. Such persons have literally ’suffered in silence’ even to the point of tears. Others have taken drastic means, resorting to physical aggression or violence. More and more in the news, there are reports of persons who have ‘gone postal’, alluding to employees who have ‘gone beserk’ at the United States Post Office in recent years, which has made headlines in some countries, especially in the United States.
Little wonder why some persons and organisations have begun to crack down on this scourge of bullying at work. Others have even taken legal action against such individuals and even entire companies by filing civil lawsuits for tolerating such behaviour and have won millions.
Bullying in the workplace is serious.