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Survive Bullying at Work
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Survive Bullying at Work

How to Stand Up for Yourself and Take Control (Steps to Success)

Lorenza Clifford
A&C Black, 2006
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Recommendation

Bullies aren’t just in the schoolyard – the workplace has plenty of them, too. On-the-job bullies are common to some occupations and stressful corporate cultures. Author Lorenza Clifford, a British career coach with a master’s degree in organizational psychology, has put together a short, to-the-point guide to help readers deal with bullying. She highlights some warning signs that a bully may be on the loose in your workplace, cites danger periods when bullying tends to increase and lists some behavioral symptoms victims display. Her common-sense advice and checklists help victims understand what makes a bully behave like one, why bullies are picking on you, who to turn to for help and support, how to take action, and how to rebuild your confidence. Nipping offensive behavior in the bud is the best way to squelch bullying. Sometimes the healthiest option is to seek employment elsewhere. Although written from the standpoint of U.K. law, this book is widely applicable. getAbstract believes it can benefit anyone who wants to craft healthy workplace policies, help an employee who is being victimized or avoid being a target.

Summary

Recognize the Signs of Bullying

Occasional disagreement and friction in the workplace is normal. When someone routinely mistreats or tries to dominate his or her colleagues, however, that’s bullying. Such inappropriate behavior tends to be frequent and ongoing, and generally worsens with time. Most people encounter bullies at some stage in their careers. Bullying is widespread, particularly in certain professions and corporate hierarchies. Bullies go after people whom they consider inferior, and treat them in negative or intentionally hurtful ways. They tend to get bolder and more brazen over time. Even if you shrug off minor annoyances, the bully’s tactics can escalate. If you’re being bullied, feeling thrown off-balance emotionally and stressed out is natural. If the bullying persists, it could even trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Clues that you might be facing a workplace bully include a persistent feeling of low self-worth, a lack of a sense of humor, increasing errors in your work, inability to sleep, a dwindling sex drive, trouble focusing and increased alcohol consumption. If your mood brightens only on days off, ask yourself why.

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About the Author

Lorenza Clifford is a career coach with a broad range of clients.

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