Bullying has taken center stage as one of the most
serious issues facing today’s society. What was once considered to be a problem
with kids and teens is now continuing into adulthood, and what was once thought
of as harmless is a growing and tragic epidemic.
Although
it’s a no brainer that every work site should be a safe place and have anti-bullying
policies, that are enforced, here in America, we don’t always have that
pleasure.
According
to Gary Namie, founder of the Workplace Bullying Institute, it is estimated
that 1 million people in the U.S.A. miss work every day due to bullying. His
recent surveys also conclude that 82% of bullied workers quit their jobs due to
stress and fear. And that 15% of all adult suicides are related to work
bullying. Mr. Namie claims at least half
of all workers are bullied, but few report it, thus bullying in the workplace
is what he calls “a silent epidemic.” Read More
Sadly,
bullying controls the work environment, more than the employer, and it’s
costing everyone greatly.
With so
many Americans missing work, due to work related illnesses such as stress, high
blood pressure, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, companies are paying higher
insurance premiums. They are also seeing high turnover rates, so therefore they
are losing productivity by having to bring in new workers and train them. Read More
Even
worse companies are being sued.
When a jury takes time to examine a workplace
culture and then reaches a $25 million verdict against the employer, it’s clear
that it was doing something wrong. That is exactly what happened after a
three-week trial over race harassment and bullying at an upstate New York steel
plant. Read
more
A few
years ago, my son, Robert was bullied at work so badly that he
became both suicidal and homicidal. Thankfully, his step-father and I found
out, intervened, and got him the help he needed. Today Robert is healed and
leads a productive life. He works for the Shiawassee County Community Mental
Health in Owosso, Michigan, helping others who have mental disabilities. He
also is part of our educational, training program, AbuseBites.com to educate
employers and employees in the workplace. Read More
Latange
Long was shot repeatedly and killed at her place of employment by co-worker,
Lillie Foots-Wilson.
Why did
this happen? Apparently, Long had been bullying Foots-Wilson for quite some
time and no one from the factory where the women worked had intervened. The two
argued the morning Long was shot. Foots-Wilson claimed she wasn’t feeling well
and went home, but returned a short time later with revenge on her mind and a
revolver in hand. She shot Long repeatedly. Read More
You may
ask, how could something like this happen? I believe the answer lies within a very poor and weak system that continues to fail us. The biggest problem I see is that employers don’t have a set anti-bullying policy in
place, or if they have one, they don’t follow and enforce procedure and policies. Then we read tragic stories like
Long’s. If things don't change, I fear we'll keep seeing this needless tragedy all over America.
Typically bosses are actually the ones doing the bullying. Bullies
bully for a variety of reasons, but usually it’s out of jealousy and to gain
some sort of power and control over the target or victim. Maybe you’re a target
or know someone who is. Click Here, we’d like
to help you.
One of
the most powerful tools to cope in the workplace is by taking legal action. However here are some tips suggested in an
article I read recently…
Acknowledge
Your Emotions—if you can admit to yourself and others you
are being bullied you are well on your way to handling the situation.
Log the
Bullying—keep an ongoing log
of each incident of bullying that occurs.
Create
Evidence—if you can record or
tape the bullying you will have proof.
Stay
Active—keep athletically
fit, so the stress from bullying doesn’t wear you down.
Team Up—get others involved, on your side, and giving you the
support you need.
Written by: Lisa
Freeman, Lifelong Abuse Survivor & Advocate from Owosso, Michigan who is
also CEO of Abuse Bites and Healing Projects Specialist with the Bully Police
USA
Other
Work Bullying Help & Links:
No comments:
Post a Comment