No one should have to experience a hostile work environment. Unfortunately, workplace bullying is a reality for many employees, affecting millions of workers.
According to the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI), 60.4 million Americans have been affected by workplace bullying. That is equivalent to 30% of all adult Americans being bullied at work.
Bullying is a form of psychological violence that can devastate an individual’s mental and emotional well-being. It could lead to long-lasting consequences, such as decreased productivity, increased stress, and depression. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute study, the cost of bullying in the workplace goes up to $100,000 per year per victim.
As HR professionals and organizations, we must foster workplaces where everyone can feel safe and respected, free from any type of bullying. In this article, we will delve into the forms of workplace bullying and explore what can be done to prevent it.
Forms of Workplace Bullying
Did you know that 43% of remote workers have faced bullying? Workplace bullying can take many forms. Verbal bullying can include insults, teasing, and name-calling. Physical bullying encompasses any form of physical attack, such as pushing or shoving. Cyberbullying involves using technology to harass or intimidate someone, such as through emails or social media. It is essential to acknowledge the effects that workplace bullying can have on people directly or indirectly affected by it.
Recognizing Bullying Behavior
Recognizing bullying is the first step to stopping misbehavior. Typical signals include persistent negative comments or actions, exclusion from conversations or activities, and physical threats or violence. Bullying can also be more subtle and disguised, such as coercion, spreading rumors, or manipulating situations to harm a victim(s).
Stop Workplace Bullying
It can certainly be difficult to handle workplace bullying, but it is essential to take steps to shield yourself and others from such behavior. If you suspect you may be a victim of bullying, first pay attention to how you feel and the actions of others towards you. Do you feel threatened or constantly on edge in the presence of a certain person(s) or situation? Are you experiencing physical or emotional distress?
These may all be indications that point to someone being bullied. If so, consider documenting and reporting incidents to a supervisor or HR representative. You can also seek support from a trusted friend, family member, HR representative, or mental health professional. If you witness someone being bullied, know that you are able to show your support and offer words of encouragement to the person. You can urge them to report the situation so that further action can be taken to prevent this from happening again.
How Training Helps
Employers ought to play a critical role in preventing workplace bullying by establishing clear policies and procedures for addressing such incidents. Employers can also conduct regular check-ins with employees to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected. Finally, they can promote a positive culture by providing training for employees on appropriate workplace behavior.
Virtual reality (VR) training can be an effective tool for a variety of skills, including hard skills development and soft skills learning, such as how to recognize and address bullying. Immersive learning can simulate real-life situations and challenges, allowing employees to practice and refine their skills in a safe and controlled environment.
Additionally, VR can be used to help employees recognize and address bullying behavior. By placing employees in virtual scenarios, they can learn how to respond to and prevent bullying in a realistic environment. VR training can also be tailored to meet the specific needs of an organization and can be scaled to accommodate large groups of employees. Overall, immersive learning provides a unique and engaging way to improve workplace safety, skills, and culture.
Workplace bullying can have damaging effects on both the victim and the company. By being aware of different kinds of workplace bullying, we can take action to address and prevent misconduct. At the same time, employers can strive to be pre-emptive in tackling workplace bullying, by setting forth well-defined policies and offering employees appropriate training. Having a zero-tolerance policy against workplace bullying can create a safe and inclusive workplace.
Our next article will dive further into workplace discrimination and cover how to combat it. We will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion, and explore how to create an empathy-driven workplace. Stay tuned!
Empower Your Team with VR Anti-Harassment Training: At Sisu VR, we create immersive and interactive experiences to build empathy and prevent misconduct in the workplace. Book a demo to learn how our VR training can benefit your organization.
