Resolving Bullying in the Office
From 3arf
Bullying is not just an ordeal which occurs in the playground, it can also continue into the workplace. Bullying of any nature is not welcomed and should be dealt with as soon as possible as it can have very negative impacts upon the victim. If there is a bully in the work place it may seem difficult to deal with it but it is possible and it is also vital too. There are several ways in which you can go about ceasing office bullying.
- Confront the bully. Sometimes bullying may be an error in interpretation especially if it is emotional bullying which is occurring. Perhaps the victim has misunderstood the bully's tone of voice or has been over-reacting to certain situations and so in this case talking to the bully directly could help. Speaking to the bully alone will remove any embarrassment and may give both parties a chance to explain and hopefully come to a conclusion in a mature and practical manner.
- Speak to co-workers. It isn't always appropriate to talk alone with the bully, sometimes being alone with the bully can make it worse and so talking to co-workers may benefit. Asking a co-worker if they have noticed the way the bully talks to you may enable you to see that it is actually more overt than you thought and you have thesupportof your co-workers behind you. It may also help you to see that they too are spoken to in a particular way and perhaps it is more of a misunderstanding. Talking to your co-workers could be very beneficial as it can help you to feel less alone and also gather another person's opinion as they too may have noticed it.
- Speak to your supervisor. Ifproblemspersist or if you are feeling as though it is something which you are not comfortable with resolving yourself then it is important to seek the help of your supervisor. This means that it will be less personal and more professional by having a third party talk to the bully, it will also help to have everything official and above board. A supervisor should always be aware of the conflicts which occur in their office as they will be able to help resolve them and make your working environment a happier one.
- Keep an account. It might be worthwhile to write down all instances ofbullyingthat occur. This will enable you to recall everything that has happened which may be vital later when the problem is being resolved. It also means that you will be able to see it in a different light. If you see all instances written down before you, it may make you realise that it is actually more frequent than you thought it was and can help you to realise that you do need to take action.
- Don't give in.Try your best to not let your work suffer. Remember all of the tasks which you have to complete and have them as your priority, try your best to not let the bully affect your quality of quantity of work and still strive to be a good employee. No bully is worth you risking your job.
Bullying in the office should not happen and should be resolved as soon as possible. By carrying out some of the options above it can help you to resolve any problems which you may be having.
