Personal Injury Law

Bullying In The Workplace On The Rise

By Chrissie Cole

Workplace bullying by women appears to be on the rise. According to a study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 40 percent of bullies are women and of those, 70 percent target other women.

The Workplace Bullying Institute describes bullying as "a non-physical, non-homicidal form of violence and because it is violence and abusive, emotional harm frequently results."

Bullies have long used cutting down others, swearing, sabotaging and scheming to cause anxiety in the workplace. And as the economy continues to get worse, so it seems do the attacks.

Some question if women turn to bullying in the workplace out of a place of insecurity about their roles or because there aren't as many leadership opportunities, but what most leadership specialists seem to agree on is that when women bully, they only hurt each other.

The findings of a Zogby poll, based on 7,740 interviews, are below:

* 37 percent of workers have been bullied

* Most bullies - 72 percent - are bosses

* Most targets -57 percent - are women

* Bullying is 4 times more prevalent in the workplace than illegal harassment

* The problem is ignored by 62 percent of employers

* 45 percent of bully targets suffer stress-related health problems

* While 40 percent of bullied individuals never tell their employers

* And only 3 percent of bullied people file lawsuits.

For those that are being bullied, experts suggest keeping taking the following steps:

Do not trust HR - they work for management and are management.

Do not ask for relief from the bully's boss. This is the person that likes her/him most. (And if they don't like them, there is fear.)

Keep a documented log of events which you should not show to anyone as it can be used against you in the wrong hands.

An attorney should not be sought until you've exhausted cheaper alternatives to get your employer to acknowledge your complaint.

Do not discuss the situation with co-workers.

Workplace Bullying Institute has a Three-Step Method to help you deal with workplace bullying.

Bullying Bills

Setting new precedence, Massachusetts has become one of the first states to enact a Healthy Workplace Bill. Senate Bill No. 699 targets severe workplace bullying and those who do the bullying may receive legal sanctions.

The Illinois House of Representatives and New York State Assembly have also passed similar bills calling attention to workplace bullying. In New York - A 2247 was passed on May 6. While in Illinois - HRJ40 was passed on April 30. Both bills commission statewide studies of the problem. #

Full post as published by InjuryBoard on May 12, 2009 (boomark / email).