bullying and harassment in the workplace

Direct verbal communication includes Indirect Verbal Communication Non-Verbal communication Manipulation of the work environment

Bullies not held accountable › If not punished

they will repeat their actions

The bullied don’t tell› They are scared of

losing job› Fear of the bully› Fear of looking

weak

Women and Minorities› “In one study by

Gary Namie (2000), 23 percent of the targets of abusive behavior identified themselves as members of a minority group and 77 percent were female.” (Eisenburg and Goodall, 298)

YouTube - Workplace Bullies

Slurs about sex, race, religion, ethnicity or disabilities

Anything that creates uncomfortable work environment

Interfering with Individuals work performance

Two forms of Sexual Harassment› Quid Pro Quo

Based on the threat of retaliation Promise of workplace favoritism in exchange

for sexual favors

› Hostile Work Environment Sexual explicit verbal or non-verbal

communication Interfere with someone’s work

Women› Most cases involve women

Men› There are increasing cases that involve

men Young people

› Often experienced at their first job Becomes normal accepted behavior in the

future

Mandatory seminars Workshops to train

employees Implemented

policies

Equal Employment Opportunity commission

Web site charts the number of reported incidents of sexual Harassment

http://www.eeoc.gov/stats/harass.html Other info about sexual harassment

can also be found at eeoc.gov

Confront the harasser Report the behavior to superior or

Human Resources Keep a written record of the behavior Confide in supportive colleagues,

family and friends

YouTube - NOW on PBS | Teen Sexual Harassment at Work | PBSRelated Videos

http://www.sexualharassmentsupport.org/myths.html

Bullying contributed to demise of NWSF› “People at the top”

had bad reputations

› Personal attacks to other organizers

› Egos getting in the way

No Respect› For each person› For everyone’s

needs› For people’s ideas

and opinions

Example of bullying at NWSF meeting› “…our process is

fine, everyone is happy with it, you should shut up”(pg8, prg. 2)

Communicated better

Delegated positions more responsibly

Had respect for each other

http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Files/Bullying.pdf

http://www.bulliesbegoneblog.com/2009/03/25/workplace-bullying-and-harassment-recognize-common-techniques-bullies-use/

http://www.bnet.com/2410-13068_23-57039.html

Eisenburg Eric. Goodall, H.L. Trethewey, Angela. Organizational Communication: Balancing Creativity and Constraint. 5th Edition. Boston. Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2007. Print.