Are you aware that many people are experiencing bullying in their workplaces right here on the island? Are you one of those persons, or do you know of any of them? How does it make you feel? What are you doing about it? Have you ever shared your experiences with anyone? Or have you ever shared their experiences with another person?If so, are you satisfied with the outcome?
Well, many people are like ostriches, preferring to bury their heads in the sand and pretend bullying is not happening, or pretend that it does not exist in some of our workplaces, or knowing that it exists but fail to address the issue. Currently, there seems to be little occupational health and safety legislation that specifically deals with bullying in the workplace and that needs to be addressed. Employers have a general duty to protect employees from risks at work.
In general, there will be differences in opinion and sometimes conflicts at work. However, behaviour that is unreasonable and offends or harms any person should not be tolerated. Every effort should be made to stamp it out or eradicate it. You may be wondering how a person can identify it. Well, it is sometimes hard to tell or know bullying is happening at the workplace because the actions can be both obvious and subtle.
Many studies acknowledge that there is a “fine line” between strong management and bullying. Comments that are objective and are intended to provide constructive feedback are not usually considered bullying, but rather are intended to assist the employee with his or her work. However, on the other hand, repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people constitute bullying.
If perchance you are still in doubt, here is a list of some of the ways bullying may happen in a workplace. It is important for you to remember that bullying is usually considered to be a pattern of behaviour where one or more incidents will help show that bullying is taking place. Read through the list and see if you or anyone you know in the workplace is experiencing it or has experienced bullying behaviour in the past.
? spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo that is not true;
? excluding or isolating someone socially;
? intimidating a person;
? undermining or deliberately impeding a person’s work;
? physically abusing or threatening abuse;
? removing areas of responsibilities without cause;
? constantly changing work guidelines;
? establishing impossible deadlines that will set up the individual to fail;
? withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information;
? making jokes that are ‘obviously offensive’ by spoken word or e-mail;
? intruding on a person’s privacy by pestering, spying or stalking;
? assigning unreasonable duties or workload which are unfavourable to one person (in a way that creates unnecessary pressure);
? underwork – creating a feeling of uselessness;
? yelling or using profanity;
? criticizing a person persistently or constantlybelittling a person’s opinions;
? unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment;
? blocking applications for training, leave or promotion;
? tampering with a person’s personal belongings or work equipment;
? overloading a person with work;
? setting timelines that are very difficult to achieve,or constantly changing deadlines;
? setting tasks that are unreasonably beyond a person’s ability;
? ignoring or isolating a person;
? deliberately denying access to information, consultation or resources;
? unfair treatment in relation to accessing workplace entitlements such as leave or training;
? making a person feel inadequate or incompetent;
If you feel that you are being bullied, discriminated against, victimized or subjected to any form of harassment, here are some things you need to do:
? FIRMLY tell the person that his or her behaviour is not acceptable and ask him or her to stop. You can ask a supervisor or union member to be with you when you approach the person.
? KEEP a factual journal or diary of daily events.
? Record the date, time and what happened in as much detail as possibleincluding the names of witnesses and the outcome of the event.Remember, it is not just the character of the incidents, but the number, frequency, and especially the pattern that can reveal the bullying or harassment.
? KEEP copies of any letters, memos, e-mails, faxes, etc., received from the person.
? REPORT the person identified in your workplace to either your supervisor or a manager. If your concerns are minimized, proceed to the next level of management or directly to your employer.
? DO NOT RETALIATE. You may end up looking like the perpetrator and will most certainly cause confusion for those responsible for evaluating and responding to the situation.
It is very important that you do not keep the issue a secret. Let everyone know what is happening to you.
Remember: Any successful teacher will tell you, you can only teach what you are by example. If you bully your pupil then it is bullying you inculcate. The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. Referrals can also be made directly through the Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence, South Hill, Anguilla. By Appointment Only: Tel 497-0765
