Management Needs to Address Workplace Bullying

By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 2014-10-23

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Hostile Presence

28% of workers surveyed said they've felt bullied at work, and 19% of them have left their jobs because of it.
Gender Issue

34% of female employees said they've been bullied at work, compared to 22% of males.
Unacceptable Practice

44% of physically disabled employees said they've felt bullied at their workplace.
Top-Down Intimidation

45% of professionals who've been bullied said the main culprit was their boss, and 25% said it was someone higher up than their boss.
Generational Conflict

53% of the survey respondents said the aggressor was someone older, and 25% said it was someone younger.
Mob Mentality

19% said they were harassed in a group setting in which more than one colleague took part.
Bullying Scenario: Fall Guy

43% said they were falsely accused of making mistakes they didn't make.
Bullying Scenario: Persona Non Grata

41% of the workers said their comments were ignored, dismissed or not acknowledged.
Bullying Scenario: Unequal Footing

37% claimed that different standards or policies were applied to them.
Bullying Scenario: Rumor Mill

34% of the surveyed employees said co-workers spread gossip about them.
Bullying Scenario: Sharp Tongue

32% said they were constantly criticized by their boss or co-workers, and 29% said belittling comments were made about their contributions during meetings.
Bullying Scenario: Short Fuse

27% of the survey respondents said their boss yelled at them in front of co-workers.
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A significant number of employees say they've been bullied on the job, according to a recent survey from CareerBuilder. Many have even left their company due to the problem, and a stunningly high percentage of physically disabled workers say they've been bullied at work—a finding that seems hard to fathom. What defines bullying? While often a gray area, it typically involves what CareerBuilder describes as a "gross lack of professionalism, consideration and respect" that involves "intimidation, personal insults or behavior that is more passive-aggressive." Whatever the form, these practices appear to affect a lot of professionals, regardless of their background or organizational standing. "Bullying impacts workers of all backgrounds, regardless of race, education, income and level of authority within an organization," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. "Many of the workers who have experienced this don't confront the bully or elect not to report the incidents, which can prolong a negative work experience that leads some to leave their jobs." Clearly, bullying is a serious workplace issue that management must address. More than 3,370 employees took part in the research.

Dennis McCafferty is a freelance writer for Baseline Magazine.