Promoting Fairness and Equity in the Workplace
Zero Tolerence
Many employers have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying at work, however the term ‘bullying’ is subject to different interpretations, perceptions and expectations.
The following quotes are all gathered from employees and managers from within organisations / companies who claimed that they did not have any bullying at work problems or related stress issues. Senior management protested and said that they could not understand why an employee of theirs was making such an accusation. What do you think?
Strong Management?
“I know I am an excellent manager, I have the best productivity record, I have won the top manager award for three out of five years. This bullying accusation is a load of manby pamby crap. I have expectations of my staff and they should get on with their work or get out!”
Psychological Bullying
“I cannot say that I was bullied in the normal sense, its just that things were done so that my work would fail or would take me twice as long. This gave them the excuse to criticise undermine, belittle, and sometimes openly laugh at me. This was always done in front of senior management to make me look stupid and ineffective.”
Corporate / Institutional Bullying
“I understand that I am likely to be stressed at times in this job, I’m not a fool! It’s just that senior management don’t seem to understand that we cannot be stressed all of the time. Training is a luxury. We are expected to get on with the job and if we fail then we are branded weak or incapable. If we take a day sick we are weak and incapable. If we question or ask for clearer instructions then we are not a team player or branded a troublemaker and are sidelined for promotion.”
“They changed my contract and made it very clear that if I objected, one way or another, I would not be working for the company much longer.”
“I employ professionally trained people and pay them good money. I expect them to do their job to my standards and rules. If they can’t cope with the pressure or the hours then that’s their problem, they know where the door is.”
Emotional Manipulation
“They all know what upsets me and they take great delight in tipping me over the edge.”
“Certain members of my team appear to want to destroy my reputation and they know how to ‘push my button’!”
The Angry Man (or Woman)
“The director waked into our office and wrecked it. He smashed a computer, tipped over a filing cabinet and threw our work everywhere. We we terrified. I am a professional person. Why should I have to work in fear? He is like the Queen of Hearts ‘the only way is my way’ even if this is against statutory regulations.”
Coping with the Workplace Bullies
It is a sad fact of life that bullies exist and those who work with them have to decide, ‘do I stay or do I leave’.
But how can you work in a bully’s world and not become just like them?
If you decide to stay how much help will you need to weather the bully’s actions without breaking, or worse still turning into a bully yourself?
All employers have a legal duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment. Some employers have a very relaxed view of what is safe and healthy and what constitutes bullying at work, plus appear rather indifferent to their legal duties with regard to stress risk assessment (which encompasses bullying).
Here are a few quotes from employees who have survived the bullying at work and how they made a difference.
Promoting Change
“When you have worked in the same office as a bully you understand how just one person can have such a devastating impact on a working environment.
Senior management had their heads in the clouds and ran the whole company on an ‘if its not broke don’t fix it’ philosophy. Maybe if they had looked they might have noticed that some parts were broke and needed urgent maintenance!
I had to get their attention. In truth I had to get downright devious. Soon, when their attention was firmly focused on our team I made sure the bad bits became evident. I suppose I became as bad as the bully for a few hours but I can live with that as the outcome was spot on! The bully is gone and the company has an anti bullying policy and proper procedures in place.”
Seeking Support
“I could feel myself going under! Drowning in a sea of work, complaints backing up and everyone apparently in the same boat. As people broke down and left they were not replaced, so things just went from bad to worse.
Unfortunately leaving without another job was not an option, because when could you look for another job when you are working 9 to 10 hours a day with two and a half hours travel a day?
Management were not interested as they had no budget, but they did put me in touch with a stress management therapist. I had to pay for it myself but I soon started to benefit from their help. I am not saying that they have made me any more efficient or reduced my workload in any way, but I have learned some amazing stress reduction routines and now I don’t allow other people’s problems to become my problems. I am back in control of my life!”
Litigation
“I would be unable to get out of bed in the morning, the whole thought of going to that horrible place would make me weak and even sick. I had worked there for over 20 years and it had been my life.
After physically collapsing one day, a friend made me see a solicitor, one of those no win no fee types, and my eyes were opened. In short my case involved age discrimination, sexual discrimination, breach of contract and damage to health due to stress. A £45,000 out of court settlement made me feel so much better!”
QUOTE
“Please help me. I used to have to work with a whole team of bullies, that was their work ethos, ‘if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen’. The only way I could survive was to become just like them and now I hate myself because I do the same to others and ruin peoples lives. Please, please help me change!”
Accused Bully Client
Managing the Workplace Bullies
Is your organisation totally bully free? Many employers are shocked by the truth.
Important Note
If you are an employer it is important that you take notice of bullying at work claims. In the current employment market many employees are taking the attitude ‘what have I got to lose?’ The employer is then subjected to a legal bullying at work claim that will usually involve stress damages, discrimination and breach of contract charges.