10 Steps to Stop Bullying in the Workplace

10 Steps to Stop Bullying in the Workplace

Last week, I posted 10 Steps to Stop Bullying.  That post dealt with tips for kids and parents of kids who are being bullied.  Most people seem to think that bullying ends when a person leaves high school. Unfortunately, bullying can get worse when a person is no longer under the protection of their parents or the school system.  It’s sad that this behavior follows us throughout the workplace and adulthood, but I’m here to tell you that bullying is a huge problem in the workplace.  I have experienced it first hand.   

One may wonder why I use a nature picture to headline articles about bullying. Do you see animals or people in that picture?  The leaves have fallen, and the forest is drab.  It is a lonely place.  Likewise, being a victim of bullying is a lonely place to be.  Although bullying is a problem in the workplace today, there are some things you can do to attempt to stop the process.

Prevention is always best:

If you come into contact with a bully, it’s important to get away from them as much as possible. Preventing situations where you are around that person is one way you can stop bullying in the workplace.  Unfortunately, you may have to work directly with the bully at times, so avoidance is not always possible.

Always ask for advice:

Sometimes the situation can be devastating for the person being bullied, but asking for advice is always a good idea.  Bringing a second person into the situation can help you evaluate the best options for stopping the circumstances.

Documentation is your friend:

Typically when bullying is happening, it does not just happen once.  Don’t be afraid to document exactly what has happened, when it has happened, and how the situation ended.  Documentation will be your best friend when you’re trying to prove something.

Stand up for yourself:

It’s easy to try and ignore a bully when they won’t leave you alone, but standing up for yourself is always an option.  Does it come with a risk?  Yes!  However, you have to be prepared for a time when you may need to stand up for yourself.

Don’t let yourself get down:

It’s easy to become depressed, sad, and uncertain when you’re dealing with a bullying situation in the workplace.  The best thing you can do is hold your head high and deal with the situation.  It’s okay to have bad days, but it’s best to gather a good support system and let them help walk you through the process.

Start an Anti-Bullying Foundation:

Perhaps your workplace does not have a bullying foundation in place.  Now may be the time to start something.  It’s important to have rules and regulations in place that help deal with these types of situations.  If no one else is up for the task of making sure bullying isn’t an issue in the workplace, then perhaps this is the right task for you.  Having these types of rules in place can help not only prevent bullying, but it helps establish consequences for those who have been caught.

Create an anonymous reporting system:

Let’s say there’s a person in the workplace who just won’t leave others alone.  There needs to be a safe haven for those who want to report that person.  Having an anonymous reporting system in place is one way to help stop bullying.  If someone knows they have a chance of being reported and there being consequences, the behavior has a better chance of stopping.  If the bullying doesn’t stop, then the consequences get greater and greater.  The reporting system also helps to document what has happened.

Don’t be a part of the problem:

Participating in gossip, slander, and hurting others is all a part of bullying.  You can help stop bullying by not being a bigger part of the problem.

Be there for someone else in the workplace:

Not listening to someone who is going a bullying incident in the workplace is a personal choice.  However, being there for someone who is being bullied in the workplace is smart move to make to show your support.

Follow through with getting bullying to stop:

Blowing off incidents in the workplace that do “not matter” is not always a good move.  Make sure you follow through with getting the bullying to stop.  Sometimes this involves taking many different steps to end the bullying, but it is a process worth taking.  Unfortunately, it sometimes comes down to whether or not management is committed to ending bullying.

What tips do you have for stopping bullying in the workplace?