For 100 days, you've walked into the office with a knot in your stomach. Your manager belittles your ideas, your coworkers whisper as you pass, and they exclude you from meetings. Such treatment is the reality of a hostile work environment. Sadly, this kind of bullying is more common than people think, and worst of all, many don’t realize they’re stuck in it. In the blog, you’ll learn the signs of workplace bullying and be aware of how to protect yourself and others.
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What is Workplace Bullying?
Workplace bullying is a repeated, targeted behavior that aims to intimidate, control, or harm an employee emotionally or physically. This unusual bullying at work goes beyond occasional disagreements or minor workplace frustrations. It often includes yelling, belittling, leaving someone out on purpose, making threats, being aggressive, or even ruining someone’s work.
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Workplace Bullying Examples
Here’s how workplace violence occurs through subtle and overt bullying behaviors:
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Constant criticism: Your boss or coworker keeps putting you down, shouting at you, or finding fault in everything you do, even when it’s unnecessary.
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Being watched closely: Someone constantly interferes with your work, double-checking everything or micromanaging even the simplest tasks.
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Being left out: You are excluded from meetings and group discussions. It feels like people are deliberately ignoring you.
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Talking behind your back: People spread rumors or twist stories to make you look bad, affecting your work status and how others treat you.
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Scary behavior: Someone uses their body, facial expressions, or voice to make you feel unsafe, like slamming things, standing too close, or glaring in a threatening way.
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Embarrassing you in public: Some people criticize you in front of others during meetings or emails, which can hurt your personal self-esteem.
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Messing up your work: Someone intentionally sets you up to fail by deleting files or hiding important information.
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Getting all the worst tasks: Your senior always assigns you the most complex tasks, while others get easier work or more help.
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Retaliation after speaking up: People start treating you differently when you report bullying. They might leave you out of meetings, social events, or give you fewer chances to grow.
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No one listens when you complain: When you share a concern or say you're uncomfortable, others dismiss it, call you too sensitive, or ignore it.
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Bullying in the workplace is not always obvious, but its effects are profound and long-lasting. Recognizing the signs beforehand can prevent further harm to your mental and physical well-being. So, whenever you're experiencing bullying or see it happening around you, do not hesitate to seek help from HR, speak to a supervisor, or find support from trusted colleagues.