Bullying
If a worker feels they’re being singled out for unfair treatment by a boss or colleague, they’re probably being bullied. There’s no comprehensive list of bullying behaviours and no one type of person who’s likely to be a bully. Bullying can be described as unfair, offensive, intimidating or insulting behaviour intended to undermine, humiliate or injure someone.
Examples of bullying behaviour include:
• Constantly criticising competent staff, removing responsibilities from them, or giving them trivial tasks.
• Shouting at staff.
• Persistently picking on people in front of others or in private.
• Blocking promotion.
• Regularly and deliberately ignoring or excluding individuals from work activities.
• Setting a person up to fail by overloading them with work or setting impossible deadlines.
• Consistently attacking a member of staff on their professional or personal standing.
• Regularly making jokes about the same person.
Symptoms of bullying include:
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Ulcers
• Sleeplessness
• Skin rashes
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Tearfulness
• Loss of self-confidence