He's a Bully, Charlie Brown

He’s a Bully,Charlie Brown10481Wendy Harkness, Esq., SPHRNRD Holdings, LLCChief People Officer/Chief Legal Officerwharkness@nrdiusa.comWhat Is Workplace Bullying?Workplace bullying is repeated, health-harmingmistreatment of a target(s) by a perpetrator(s) thattakes one or more of the following forms:ooooVerbal abuseConduct that is threatening,humiliating or intimidatingWork interference/sabotage that prevents workfrom getting doneExploitation of a known psychological or physicalvulnerabilitywww.workdoctor.comRecognizing BulliesTake a look…http://youtu.be/UuTt8VljniUhttp://youtu.be/Z8BuHAc40GMhttp://youtu.be/TPgWSQB-Gi8http://youtu.be/Q2VKlNwH2bwBullies often bully to reduce the target’sperformance and self-esteem while increasing thebully’s own view of his/her self-importance.

Who are the Targets?Bullies target employees that are:oooooooEthicalFairWell-likedHighly-personableIndependentSelf-assuredIntelligentTargets often inadvertently show their bully’sinadequacies.Good Grief!Is workplace bullying a real problem?oooooo35% of adult American workers report being bullied at work15% witness it, but are not a direct target62% of bullies are men; 58% of targets are womenWomen bullies target other women in 80% of the casesBullying is 4 times more prevalent than illegal harassment68% of bullying is same gender harassment2010 & 2007 U.S. Workplace Bullying Surveys (Workplace Bullying Institute-Zogby)Bullying Behaviors• Talking about someone behind his/her back• Belittling someone in front of others• Giving someone the silent treatment• Yelling or shouting at someone• Staring or glaring at someone• Constant, harsh, unfounded criticism• Starting or failing to stop destructive gossip• Encouraging others to turn against someone• Setting someone up for failure• Withholding important job-related information• Targeted micro-management• Preying on someone’s known vulnerability• Threatening an employee if they call to report

Bad Behavior v. BullyingNot all bad workplace behavior is bullyingbehavior:ooooSimple rudenessIntellectual disagreementsSlamming doorsUntargeted angry tiradesPotential Signs of BullyingYour workplace may have a bully, if you observe:ooooUnusually high turnover in a specific department or underthe same managerA good employee beginning to withdraw or resistparticipating in work activitiesAn employee’s body language significantly changes arounda specific person/managerAn employee requests a transfer, but can’t or doesn’t wantto explain whyEffects of Workplace BullyingooooooIncreased employee turnoverLoss of productivityIncreased absenteeismPoor employee satisfactionTarget could “snap”Lawsuits

Manager’s RoleoooooooKnow & understand company anti-bullying policyRecognize bullyingTrain staffInvestigate promptly and thoroughlyDiscipline bully and/or manager that did not protectagainst bullyingDocument resultDon’t promote bullieso Do not wait for a complaint if you witness bullying –Stop it!Company’s RoleoooooEstablish anti-bullying policyConduct climate surveysEstablish reporting, investigating and mediationprocessesEnsure no retaliation for good faith complaintsCreate training program all employeesBullying Legislationoooooo23 states have introduced the Healthy Workplace Bill12 states carrying 18 versions of the HWBHWB gives employers an affirmative defense if the“employer exercised reasonable care to prevent andcorrect promptly any actionable behavior”Under HWB, plaintiff can sue their bully directlyBullying is different than discrimination and harassmentbecause claims are not necessarily based on aprotected status like race, age, gender, etc.Formal bullying laws are slowly developing, but in themeantime, employees are filing claims as:• Stress related worker’s compensation• Intentional infliction of emotional distress

What is the Cost of Bullying?oooooWBI estimates that workplace bullying could cost aFortune 500 company $24M a yearEstimated annual cost of $1.4M for litigation andsettlementsOBJ reports and estimated $180M in lost time &productivityIncreased health insurance or worker’s compensationcost for stress-related illnessLoss of employment and brand reputationAnti-Bullying PolicyWorkplace bullying policies should include:oooooothe organization’s attitude toward bullyinga clear definition of bullyinga statement that prevention is everyone’s responsibilityreporting procedures with optionsthe likely disciplinary consequences of bullying“no retaliation” language to ensure employees feelsafe reporting relevant behaviorReporting BullyingoooooooClear reporting policySeveral options to reportPrompt and thorough investigationQualified employee investigatesWell-documented investigationDiscipline if necessaryFollow up 30 and 90 days

An Ounce of Prevention…oooooFoster a cohesive workplaceAddress destructive competitionPromote or reward employees that visiblysupport the company’s valuesConduct periodic climate surveysHire nice people. You can’t train nice!Workplace Bullying Resourcesoooooooowww.bullyinginstitute.orgwww.worktrauma.orgwww.itstime.comwww.bullyfreeatwork.comwww.workplacebullying.orgwww.bullyonline.orgwww.healthyworkplacebill.orgwww.workdoctor.comAny Questions???