Bullying is About the Work Enviroment

Bullying is systemic. It is more about the historical rewards that bullying brings, than about the crazy destructive antics of a few bullies. It is the environment -- rules, assignments, traditions, work safety, or lack thereof -- not just the personalities. Correctly identifying causes leads to appropriate solutions.

The WBI-Zogby national survey and the Employment Law Alliance poll make it clear that bullying can, and does, happen in nearly every workplace. Some industries are more prone to the problem, but it happens everywhere.

54 million Americans have experienced bullying directly.

FACT: If even one bully operates successfully where you work, pattern and practice have been established. Most employees see that "aggression works here," despite pronouncements to the contrary. They see the history of rewarding bullying over the years. Bullying is a system of interactions. Only a comprehensive, systemic approach to eradicating bullying -- the Namie Blueprint -- will work. Match the solution to the problem.

Bullying is legal in 80% of incidents -- discrimination laws do not pertain

Read what Business week has to say about Bullying.

Workplace bullying includes all types of interpersonal harassment and psychological violence. Few are blatantly illegal; most are not. It crosses all organizational levels, from the top-down and from the bottom-up. Unchallenged bullying poisons the workplace, undermines productivity, and contributes to a skyrocketing exposure to risk.

The anguish of bullied employees forces them to pay with their health--psychological, physical, social, and economic--that affects them, their co-workers, and their families. It undermines a loyal employee's commitment to the organization, while eroding personal well-being.

Bullies are too expensive to keep!

Employers are turning to 'employment practices liability' insurance to protect against bullying-type claims (harassment, wrongful termination, etc.) for which companies pay $5,000 to $100,000 in annual premiums, with deductibles of $10,000 to $25,000. The median compensation in wrongful termination cases topped $200,000 in 1995, up 45% from the previous year.

Read the Wall Street Journal's workplace bullying report.

The relationships among employees, and between management and staff, are strained more than ever because of time and productivity pressures. Pressure, to some, justifies the mistreatment of others. When mistreatment goes unchallenged, even passive individuals are capable of explosive rage that can result in headline episodes of workplace violence.

Don't let the bullies destroy your business or undermine your mission!

The economic rationale is compelling. But bullying is also inhumane; it is cruel. Bullies will continue unrestrained unless there are measures put forward. Now, more than ever, is the time to cut costs and prevent future harm by eradicating workplace bullying in your business.

Visit WorkDoctor.com for solutions to Workplace Bullying.