Bullying is rampant in many parts of the world. While it is common in schools, various forms of it can also occur in the workplace. Chances are, you’ve been called names or have become a victim of pig-tail pulling. The worst thing that can happen is for you to be emotionally abused or physically harmed. Whether your perpetrators bully you on purpose or unintentionally, you will surely want to find ways to rise above this unfortunate situation.
In this article, we will share with you five valuable tips on how you can handle bullying in the workplace. If you are in management, it’s best to conduct online courses about bullying in the workplace and incorporate the strategies outlined below.
1. Know what a real bully is
Before you take any further actions, you have to assess and identify what a real bully is, as there is a line drawn between someone who’s a bully and someone who’s just playing jokes on you. It’s possible that you have a colleague who’s just fond of picking on you without any malicious intent and whose joke is something that offends you quite easily. On the other hand, there are those bullies who deliberately hurt others, physically and emotionally.
2. Understand what bullying entails
It’s important to know what bullying entails, as it can sometimes be straightforward or even be subtle. For the most part, it can take different forms, such as name-calling, shouting, rumor spreading, or even physical assault. Any type of behavior that can make you feel belittled, humiliated, verbally assaulted, singled out, and sexually harassed can be regarded. When one or some of these happens to you several times, it’s best to take the right steps in addressing them.
3. Talk to your offender
When it comes to bullying, the first step is to talk directly to your offender. Doing so will let the person know that you are offended and that you don’t consent to the bullying at all. It’s possible that some people do not realize their actions until the point you call them out. Yet, there may be times when they feel even more agitated and continue to bully you.
4. Speak to your HR
After having confirmed bullying and you talked to the person without any positive response, it’s best to schedule a meeting with an HR representative, supervisor, or manager. It helps if you can have some pieces of evidence or even witnesses to support your claim. Every business should have a proper guideline set in place in dealing with this unfortunate act in the workplace.
5. Come to terms with yourself
Bullying can take a toll on your emotional and overall well-being, even if you don’t realize it. For this reason, you have to come to terms with yourself. Know that there is nothing wrong with you and that it isn’t your fault. Ultimately, bullying has nothing to say about you and everything about the mindset and personality of the bully.
Conclusion
Bullying should never be tolerated in the workplace. Not only does it demoralize a person, but it can foster a culture of hostility and it can impact the business as a whole.
If you are a victim of this unfortunate act, make sure to follow the valuable tips outlined above. If you’re in management, schedule online courses about bullying in the workplace and design it to identify the act and help victims incorporate strategies to address such issues if and when they arise.
We provide a variety of short online courses designed to help improve your soft skills. If you’re looking for bullying in the workplace online courses or positive work environment online courses, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!
