Many organizations have a no-tolerance policy for such behaviour, which includes reporting guidelines when being subject to or witnessing it...
TIPS 'N' TRICKS
Research your company’s policy
If you’re being bullied at work or know of someone who is, research your company’s policies to determine the proper protocols to report such activity. Many organizations have a no-tolerance policy for such behaviour, which includes reporting guidelines when being subject to or witnessing it.
If your organization doesn’t have a policy or the current policy needs updating to reflect remote work arrangements, speak to your manager or HR department about putting a new company policy in place to protect employees from abuse.
Take a beat
If you feel you are being bullied at work, take a breather to size up the situation. From a calm and grounded perspective, you can determine the best way to deal with the situation.
Tip: Keep in mind that people make mistakes. Take a moment to size up the situation and determine if the “bullying” was simply a one-time incident or something that will evolve into continued abuse and harassment.
Take care of your wellbeing and mental health
Bullying can have a negative impact on your overall wellbeing, both mentally and physically. Many individuals are afraid to speak up when they are being bullied. They might be concerned about what others will think. Take care of yourself by pulling resources together to support you. A mental health professional or counsellor is an excellent place to start to help you deal with the stress of bullying and come up with solutions on how to handle it.
Talk to your higher-ups or HR
If you are not comfortable speaking to the individual who is bullying you directly, you might need to discuss it with your manager or human resources. Choose the course of action that feels best for you for your situation.
Tip: When addressing your concerns, focus on the negative impact on productivity, wellbeing, and morale while staying professional and calm.
Don’t take it personally
While this is easier said than done, do your best to not take bullying personally. Remember, when someone is bullying you, it’s more about them than it is about you. Often, a bully is acting from a place of insecurity, jealously, and/or from a need to control.
Address the issue directly and rise above
This won’t always be possible or comfortable, but it is often best to speak up and stand your ground when communicating with a bully. At the same time, you want to be professional and take the high road.
Use the following phrases when dealing with a work bully or someone who is not treating you appropriately:
“Please don’t talk to me that way.”
“Let’s try to get this conversation to a place where it can be productive.”
“Let’s take a break and come back to this later.”
Leave if it’s not worth it
If you have done all you can to eliminate the bullying, but it’s still occurring, then it might be time to explore other options and leave the organization.
It might feel like the bully won if this is the avenue you choose, but when you take care of yourself and leave a bad situation, you’re the winner. Also, look for an organization that knows how to put a stop to abusive behaviour when it occurs.
Document all of it
This bit of advice on how to handle bullying in the workplace is extremely important to remember: Always document everything related to your interactions with the bully. This not only provides a timeline of events, but it also helps you recall information more easily when needed.
When possible, communicate via email when dealing with a bully to have a written record of the communication, as well.
