The Realities of Adult Bullying which Happens in the Workplace

by Dec 16, 2015

There’s an interesting report at Yahoo!Health which made mention of adult bullying, its realities and how GOP candidate Donald Trump and his social media tirades against other people.  One of the latest is Trump’s Twitter posts criticizing Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.  The report cited how many people compared Trump’s behavior to that of a school bully all throughout his presidential campaign.

While most people would think that bullies are only present in at school or a playground, the harsh reality is it exists even in the workplace.  Adult bullying or workplace bullying has become prevalent over the years.  It can happen in any industry or profession.  Employees who experienced being bullied at work would find themselves under constant attack from an abusive boss or co-worker.  The attack need not be physical.  More often than not, it involves the use of highly critical words and even subtle actions which sometimes makes it difficult to assess whether a situation would fall under the category of workplace bullying.  It also makes it even harder to prove, on the part of the victim, that he or she was targeted by a workplace bully.

But going back to the Yahoo! report, it pointed out that while Trump and Kelly are not co-workers, they do have a professional relationship.  That is of a reporter and candidate or a journalist and subject.  Trump’s social media posts may seem scathing for some, however, other people may view it as an aggressive action that is reminiscent of a bully.

 

Click here to read the full article.

Incivility, bullying, and harassment occur because the culture allows them to. Before starting inclusivity initiatives, you’ve got to stop bad behavior. Take this assessment to determine if your workplace fosters a positive culture.

 

Catherine

About Catherine Mattice

Catherine Mattice, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the founder/CEO of Civility Partners, an organizational development firm focused on helping organizations create respectful workplace cultures and specializing in turning around toxic cultures. Civility Partners’ clients range from Fortune 500s to small businesses across many industries. Catherine is a TEDx speaker and an HR thought leader who has appeared in such venues as USA Today, Bloomberg, CNN, NPR, and many other national news outlets as an expert. She’s an award-winning speaker, author, and blogger and has 60+ courses reaching global audiences on LinkedIn Learning. Her fourth book, Navigating Toxic Work Environments For Dummies (Wiley), is available in all major bookstores and where audiobooks are sold.

Is Training Enough? 6 Signs Your Company Needs Culture Consulting

Your company invested in training. Employees attended the workshop, passed the quiz, and checked every box. Yet a few weeks later, managers are still dodging difficult conversations, departments are still pointing fingers, and good employees are still heading for the...

4 Ways HR and Leaders Can Address Political Tension at Work

Your employees may disagree about politics. They still need to finish a project together by Thursday. And with the November 3 midterm elections just days away, now is a good time to prepare for the conversations that could follow your employees into meetings, group...

How to De-Escalate Tense Conversations at Work: The 3-Step ART Method for Leaders

Is there a conversation on your calendar this week you’re not looking forward to? Maybe you need to address someone’s behavior, explain an unpopular decision, or sit down with two employees who have apparently decided that making each other miserable is now part of...

5 Best Culture Consulting Firms to Consider and How to Choose the Right Partner

Your company values say “respect.” Your employees would like to know when that takes effect. A company can offer impressive benefits, display inspirational slogans, and call its people its greatest asset while tolerating behavior that sends those same people straight...

Your Employees Aren’t Resistant to Change. Here Are 5 Things They Need to Navigate It

When employees struggle with change, organizations love to reach for a convenient diagnosis: They’re resistant… or they don’t want to learn the new system, they aren’t embracing the new strategy, they keep asking questions leadership thought they already answered, or...

Gallup 2026: Disengagement Hits COVID Levels & What to Do About It

According to Gallup’s 2026 Report, global levels of engagement now match the level we hit in 2020, when only 20% of the global workforce was engaged at work. And that drop “cost the world economy approximately $10 trillion in lost productivity, or 9% of GDP.” Gallup...

3 Reasons Gen Z Is Ghosting Employers and How to Fix It

Search “Gen Z in the workplace” and you’ll find plenty of complaints. You’ll find results like, "They're entitled," "They don’t want to work," "They quit too quickly," "They won’t pick up the phone," and “They accept interviews and don’t show up." Some even accept job...

Do You Want to Share Your Expertise With Civility Partners’ Audience?

Do you have a perspective, idea, or area of expertise that HR professionals and leaders need to hear? We’re opening guest opportunities for professionals who can bring fresh thinking and practical value to the Civility Partners community. There are two ways to join...

AI Could Kill Humans in the Next Decade?? Leaders, Here Are 4 Things You Can Do Now

There are headlines you read, shake your head at, and move on from. Then there are headlines like this one: AI could kill all humans within the next decade. It sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie. Some of the people raising these concerns are building the...

Why Are People So Sensitive? 4 Things Have Changed at Work

“Why is everyone so sensitive these days?” I hear some version of this all the time. Employees are offended by everything. Managers can’t say anything anymore. People need constant reassurance. Nobody can take a joke. Everyone has to walk on eggshells. And usually,...