According to a new Zogby poll:
Half of working Americans (49%) have suffered or witnessed workplace
bullying — including verbal abuse, job sabotage, abuse of authority or
destruction of workplace relationships, according to a new Workplace
Bullying Institute/Zogby Interactive survey.
The study is here.
When I was a teenager in New Jersey, I took a summer job in a machine tool shop. My job was cleaning the grease and metal chips off the floor, walls and machines. By days end, we were covered head to toe with grease and chips: Try scrubbing grease filled metal chips off your face sometime (ouch). It was a rough place. The machinists drank beer every break and smoked weed back out behind the factory. Fights were common. One day one of my high-school age peers, about 16 years old, was cleaning up around a machine and one of the machinists just hauled off and slugged him in the face, blood spewing everywhere. He broke his nose. I thought it was an isolated incident. I guess not.
For some insight into the reality of factory life, check out Ben Hamper’s phenomenal Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line.
The Zogby study is disturbing showing how prevalent workplace bullying is: It is impossible for people to be creative in this kind of work environment.
Has this happened to you?
August 31st, 2007 at 11:59 am
I think there is plenty of proof that people can be creative in an environment where there is occasional abuse (not constant).
The worst place I’ve every worked for this type of bullying behaviour was academia (it’s one of the reasons I left that career). And yet people in that environment still churn out quality, creative work — as I think that I did. When you also have a network of supporters — in addition to the bullies trying to undermine your career — creative, talented people can focus on the positive.
Nevertheless, I would agree that workplace bullying needs to be addressed in many environments– and the talent shortage in many industries will probably do the most to force companies to confront bullies who drive employees away.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:14 pm
The hidden epidemic of workplace bullying, defined as repeated, health-harming mistreatment, can involve verbal abuse, threatening, humiliating, offensive behavior or actions, or work interference. Regardless of tactics used, workplace bullying, also known as “legal” or “status-blind” harassment, affects employees who are not protected by the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The loophole in the law needs to be plugged.
Employers have no law to protect them from bullies either. The current proposed legislation would require employers to put policies and procedures in place, similar to the sexual harrassment laws we now have (remember the days before those laws?). Once in place, employers would be protected and we would all have some legal recourse.
This is NOT about business as usual. This is about REPEATED HEALTH HARMING treatment in the workplace. No one should have to suffer every day when going to work. That would be like being married to an abuser. Oh sure, you can get another spouse or employer, but it’s not a simple fix. We need legal protection from workplace bullying.
Michelle Smith, Co-founder California Healthy Workplace Advocates
http://www.bullyfreeworkplace.org
June 26th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I agree that workplace bullying needs to be addressed. I recently left my job due to severe workplace bullying. When I approached upper management, I was laughed at and told not to take it seriously. They did not address the issue with the persons who were committing the abuse.
The difficult part for me is that I am a single Mom who is solely responsible for providing for my child. In the current climate, it made me very nervous to leave my job. Due to the continued bullying, I was forced to choose between my health and my job.
It surprises me that employers do not support anti-bullying legislation. In my humble opinion, it would improve their turn over and in the end save them money. After reading the statistics, I am saddened by how prevalent workplace bullying is.
I am also surprised by how much employers are getting away with in Florida. I tried to find an attorney to address the many issues I had with my employer, and it was impossible.