Workplace Bullying in a Remote Setup

What is Workplace Bullying?

When defining bullying, different variations and ideas come to mind. However, it doesn\’t matter if this abuse happens in school or the workplace. It is bullying as long as it is categorized as a persistent pattern of mistreatment from those around you. Workplace bullying is a type of bullying that occurs among employees in a workplace.

According to a research conducted by Dr. Judy Blando titled Workplace Bullying: Aggressive Behavior and Its Effect On Job Satisfaction and Productivity, 75% of all workers will experience workplace bullying in their lifetime. Furthermore, 29% will only speak about the incident. This is despite 65% of other employees knowing about the situation. Remote working creates communication and social barriers among employees. This makes the complexity of addressing workplace bullying far greater.

Another study last 2017 by the Harvard Business Review supports this. 52% of work from home employees feel that their workmates are secluding and mistreating them, the study showed. They also felt that they are not treated equally . Furthermore, being talked about behind their backs, lobbying against them, making project changes without telling them, to name a few, are among their fears.

Cyberbullying

More businesses have shifted to a remote work set up because of the current world crisis. With this, the risk of workplace cyberbullying is continuously growing. This results from the constant use of technology as a means of communication.

“Workplace cyberbullying may take many forms of aggressive and threatening behavior, such as sending offensive e-mail messages including insults, personal threats, intimidation, sexual harassment, or other verbal abuse [such as via phone call or video chat], as well as withholding work-related information, spreading rumors or unwanted photos of colleagues on social media, and social exclusion,” says Atte Oksanen, a social psychologist at Tampere University in Finland.

Some may say that cyberbullying is less traumatic than physical bullying. However, bullies tend to go beyond working hours and extend to the home lives of their victims. They will send messages during late night or at the wee hours of the morning. These invasion of boundaries have resulted to employees constantly fearing for themselves and their families. It does not only make them afraid to come to work or deal with their co-employees but it also act as a stressor which prevents them from relaxing.

Cyberbullying In Public Spaces

Furthermore, cyberbullying within workspace also occurs in a public space. This can happen when bullies attack their victim on group chats, emails, or posts on social media. Since more people can witness the incidents, the target of bullying can experience more fear and shame. Posts on the internet are forever there. Therefore, it can also affect how the victim will be viewed by future employers or recruiters.

“Digital content leaves a trail and is much harder to erase permanently, meaning that any abuse or allegations online could pose a more enduring threat to targets’ personal and professional lives, particularly since employers and recruiters can easily access this information through a web search,” says Natalia D’Souza, a lecturer of management at Massey University in New Zealand.

Now more than ever, managers and HR personnel should continue to make steps to monitor and provide solution for bullying cases. The thing is, workplace bullying does not only affect the employees involved but as well as the image of the company. Because of its nature, evidences of cyberbullying can be easily acquired. Although legal actions may not be the end result that the victims would want to seek, the tarnished relationship among employees will damage working relationships, productivity, and overall atmosphere of the company.

Signs of Workplace Bullying

There are different forms of bullying. However, bullying is not applicable in all words and actions. Whenever managers tell objective and constructive criticism to improve one’s work performance or behavior, employees often misunderstood them. Therefore, knowing what actions are considered as bullying is important for employees, managers, and HR. Here are the most common signs that you should look out for individuals who might be a bully:

Swearing or cursing at someone through messages, emails, social media
Threatening someone
Belittling someone during meetings, conference calls
Blaming someone for a mistake they did not do
Putting someone in the corner
Demanding and forcing someone to do extra work
Spreading rumors about someone
Making racist, sexual, creepy messages
Humiliating someone
Forcing someone to quit

Warning Signs

Aside from the list above, here are other potential warning signs to look for a bully. Source from: Beating the Workplace Bully: A Tactical Guide to Taking Charge by Lynne Curry.

Cuts you down, then claims she was \”just kidding\”
Makes you feel like you \”walk on eggshells\” because you never know what might trigger a tirade
Holds past employees, employers, or coworkers responsible for his unhappiness
Hates to have her authority questioned
Treats others poorly when he can get away with it
Delights in making your life difficult
Intimidates you or others
Puts you in the wrong so she can make herself appear right

These signs are the ones you should look out for. In doing so, whether you are being bullied or not, you will know the difference. These signs should be familiar to HR and managers. So, when cases like these arise they analyze and provide proper solution.

Effects of Workplace Bullying

Workplace bullying is known to cause psychological/emotional, physical health, and work problems to the victim. In a workplace where bullying occurs, the well-being of employees are considered to be unstable causing quick employee turnover, low morale, and productivity Let’s take a closer look at the negative effects that affected employees experience.

Psychological Effects

Victims of workplace bullying usually experience Post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. They also undergo episodes of depression, panic attacks, breakdowns, and even suicide. Furthermore, these individuals tend to develop mood swings, anger issues, and phobias. Due to the tremendous effect of workplace bullying, victims are likely to rely on sleeping pills, alcohol, drugs, and other substance to feel a little sense of relaxation or comfort.

Physical Health Effects

Studies associate several health problems to people who experience workplace bullying. In a research conducted by a group led by Tianwei Xu of the University of Copenhagen, 8% to 13% of survey respondents that experience bullying were found out to have more risk of having cardiac-related diseases such as heart diseases or strokes. The analysis resulted into an increase of 59% in the bullied compared to non-bullied. In the similar study, the researchers found that victims of workplace bullying are associated with 1.46 times increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Other diseases that have been found out to be developed by victims are the following:

Colds
Coughs
Fever
High blood pressure
Migraines
Body pain
Irritable bowel syndrome
Thyroid problems
Ulcers

Job Performance Effects

Because of the more developed anxiety and stress that bullied employees experience when working, their job performance are usually low. They tend to absent more, product low quality of output, more accidents, low morale, lack of motivation, and more. However, studies also show that the workplace productivity of witnesses of bullying experience are also affected. In a study conducted by Dr. Charlotte Rayner, a U.K. researcher, found out that 20% of the witnesses looked for a new job. Whereas 98% of them are distressed by what they experienced.

Ways to Prevent Workplace Bullying

HR and management should never take for granted any mistreatment. Whenever an employee comes forward and reports any form of bullying or abuse by a co-worker, immediate action and response should be given.

As the department that looks after the well-being of employees, HR should be able to act on the matter as quickly as possible. They should be able to know all details and keep evidences that points at the employee being complained. All sorts of interviews and statements from both parties should also be documented for review later on.

Furthermore, the management should include policies in the workers’ manual or handbook to make everyone aware that bullying is never tolerated in the workplace. Here are some advice presented by HR Solutions regarding workplace bullying that can be included in the policies:

Solutions

A statement of commitment from senior management
Acknowledgement that bullying and harassment are problems for the organisation
A clear statement that bullying and harassment is unlawful and will not be tolerated
Examples of unacceptable behaviour
A statement that bullying and harassment may be treated as disciplinary offences
The steps the company takes to prevent bullying and harassment
Responsibilities of supervisors and management
Confidentiality for any complaint
Reference to formal and informal grievance procedures including timescales
Investigation procedures including timescales
How the policy will be implemented, reviewed and monitored

Victimized remote workers tend to believe that they cannot rely or talk to the management because of the possible misinterpretations. Because of this, HR should be able to create assurance and measures that they can always open up about such issues.

Provide training on new technology or provide an IT support
Conduct meetings visually to see body language and facial expressions
Communicate clearly to avoid the feeling of being forced or pressured,
Properly regulate all work related messaging groups
Provide flexible working patterns (if possible)
Give compliments
Establish a fun environment

Action Towards Bullies

In any bullying case, the victims are clearly the abused. However, the management should also take into consideration the bullies. They should be able to provide support and psychological help to these individuals. Not tolerating their action or giving them a free pass, but rather they might need a professional help because of their abusive actions.

Studies show that people bully because of several actors. Some includes stress and trauma, aggressive behaviors, low self-esteem, past victims of bullying, bad relationships, and low access to education. Remember that keeping the workplace peaceful does not entirely rely on providing solutions to the victims but it also means giving the intended help to the bullies.

Today is an uncertain period for everyone. Therefore, companies should gear towards creating a safe space for every remote workers. Taking care of employees is not just about giving proper compensation and benefits. It is also making sure to treat employee fairly and right. If you are a remote worker experiencing bullying, do not hesitate to approach your management. Seek help.