Bullying in the Workplace
Bullying is the use of force or coercion to abuse or intimidate others. It can include emotional, verbal and physical abuse. It is a repeated pattern of behavior intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group.
Bullying is a hot topic these days appearing on the evening news casts, being addressed by the Prime Minister and even gaining traction in the workplace.
As HR professionals we are hearing more and more about the ‘office bully’; that one person or group of people who makes the workplace uncomfortable for an individual or the entire team.
So what do you need to know about bullies at work? An increasing number of companies are creating anti-bullying polices to go hand in hand with any anti-harassment polices already in place. While the organization may swoop in and deal with bully by severing the employment relationship there is often residual damage or others left behind that may also have been affected.
The CCH published an article ‘When Firing The Bully Isn’t Enough’ on April 29, 2013 written by Lauren Bernardi of © Bernardi Human Resource Law that offers tips for employers on what should be done to deal with the office bully.
• Ensure all employees receive annual training on harassment and respect in the workplace
• When you notice bad behavior call it out immediately
• Have your team develop their own rules of respect and engagement- let them own how to act in the workplace
For more information on the article by Lauren Bernardi please follow this link.
When Firing The Bully Isn’t Enough
Elizabeth Callaway- HR Specialist – PEO Canada