How to stop bullying in the workplace

When you think of the word “bullying,” images of playgrounds and little kids might pop into your mind, but bullying doesn’t just stop in the school yard. 

Unfortunately, bullying affects people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, and can quite often be found in the adult world in workplaces.

If you’ve ever witnessed a coworker being especially rude to another, with the person on the offending end saying something like, “gee, I was just kidding,” and walking away with a sly grin on their face, you may have just witnessed a bully in action. 

"Bullying usually involves repeated incidents, or a pattern of behaviour, that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people,” explains The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). "It has also been described as the assertion of power through aggression.” 

CCOHS has a long list of examples of the different types of workplace harassment that include: 

  • Making offensive jokes.

  • Socially isolating someone. 

  • Punishing a subordinate without reason.

  • Making a subordinate’s job harder without cause.

Is it happening to you?

Maybe you recognize some of this behaviour? Nearly half of all Canadians are bullied in the workplace every week. And it can be hard to prove because this type of behaviour can actually be missed, unless the pattern of behaviour can be described well enough to be proven, and stopped.

In law, there is something called the "reasonable person" test which asks what behaviour most people would consider acceptable vs unacceptable? This is the difference between telling someone their shoelace is undone vs their shoelaces are “so last season.”

Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between constructive feedback and bullying behaviour, so here’s a list of some things that are not considered bullying, but simply strong management:

  • performance assessments

  • outlining health and safety procedures

  • providing instruction on how to perform a specific task

  • corrective action such as verbal or written warnings due to poor conduct

What you can do

If you’re being bullied in the workplace, it’s important to know what to do:

  • Keep a log of every occurrence, including:

    • Dates, times, and events.

    • Correspondence.

    • Witnesses.

    • Outcomes.

  • Don’t retaliate. It could only result in a confusing experience for the people who will step in to help you. If you look like you’re the bully, there’s not much they can do but discipline you, too.

  • Do your best to report everything to a superior in your workplace that you trust. If they minimise your experiences, keep moving up the ladder of superiority. Don’t give up!

Bullying isn’t just what happens, but the intent behind it, as well as the frequency and pattern that can help you unravel and reveal the bullying behaviour for what it is. 

Reach out

If you or someone you know is being bullied in the workplace, reach out. You can either call us on our 24-hour help line at 780.743.HELP(4357), or book an appointment with one of our counsellors. 

Everyone should be free from bullying in the workplace.

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