What to do about Bullying Colleagues
According tobullyonline.org, bullying is ‘persistent unwelcome behaviour’ that, in the workplace, usually involves allegations that the victim isn’t performing to adequate standards. In most cases, the bullying will be limited to one or two people, but occasionally, victims may fall foul of a gang of workplace bullies. This gang will usually consist of a ringleader with a number of hangers-on, some of whom enjoy the power that the experience gives them, while others simply participate out of fear of being the next victim. Unfortunately for the victim, it can be very frightening to have to deal with a group of bullies, even if the bullying is emotional rather than physical. It therefore becomes much more important to gather evidence to back up your claims. Here are a few tactics for dealing with a group of bullies in the workplace.
Do your research
Before you take any action, do some detailed research. There is plenty of material out there to provide you with information about bullying.Bullyonline.orgis one site full of information about bullying and provides links to a number of other sources too, including books. The more you know about bullying, the more you will be able to take the moral high ground, realising that it is not you who is at fault, but the bullies, even if you are in the minority. The important thing for you to understand is that you do not have to put up with bullying and you can do something about it.
Single out a member of the group
There is usually at least one member of a group of bullies who is reluctant to take part, but goes along with the bullying out of boredom or misguided loyalty. Try to single out that person, and let him know how the bullying is making you feel. He may be too intimidated to do anything directly to help you, but the fact that he takes a back seat during the next round of bullying may eventually have a knock-on effect on others, and eventually the group as a whole. If you can work in conjunction with another victim, then that is even better.
Record incidences
At some point, you are going to need to make a complaint and have information to back it up. Start putting together every incidence of bullying of which you become the victim. This should include the time, place, people involved and the nature of the bullying. If there are witnesses, you should make a note of their names too in case they are willing to back you up. Make sure that you keep the records safe, ideally locked away, and don’t leave them lying around your desk; the last thing you want is for any of the bullies to know what you are doing.
Seek help from your manager/HR department
Once you have enough evidence, you will need to approach someone at work about the issue. Ideally, this should be your manager, but if he is one of the bullies, or you believe he may be in cahoots with the bullies, then you will need to approach someone else. Someone in the human resources department should be a good start, because HR people should understand the issues surrounding bullying and the problems that can occur if the issue is not dealt with as soon as possible.
Start a grievance procedure
If you cannot find anyone who is prepared to help you, then follow your company’sgrievance procedure. Doing so may be enough to stop the bullies in their tracks. This usually involves trying to resolve the issue informally, but if that doesn’t work, you will need to make a formal complaint or start a disciplinary procedure. However, it is possible that your employer will make a complaint in retaliation. In some cases, mediation through a third party, such as ACAS in the UK, may be an option; in others, you may need to go to an Employment Tribunal.
Leave for another job
On occasion, particularly if you feel that your health is suffering and you nobody seems to be willing to help you, you may decide that it is easier to simply leave. Ideally, you should wait until you have another job, but while you look, you can take sick leave if you are finding it impossible to continue going to work in the circumstances. You may not want to take that route, but it may be better than sticking it out at work and waiting until you are at the point of no return. Then you won’t have the wherewithal to be able to work, or look for a new job either.
Bullying is a horrible experience and one that you hopefully won’t need to face in your working life. However, if you do, whether at the hands of a single bully or a group, there is help out there if you look for it.
