Identifying the Warning Signs of Toxic Workplace Culture
Workplace bullying is an issue that has permeated all the levels of fabric within an organization. It can be used to render the workplace reprehensible, decrease productivity, and destroy the psychological stability of the employees in the process. Understanding the signs in terms of workplace bullying is vital in maintaining a safe, respectful working environment. This article considers some of the behaviors that portend the presence of bullying within the workplace.
1. Gossiping and Spreading Malicious Rumors
One of the first identifiable signs is malicious rumors, or, put simply, gossiping. Lying about someone or distorting the truth about someone, the bullies usually aim it at other people. Ruining a person's reputation results not only in one person's damage but results in distrust among the group, too. Unfounded continuous rumors are actually evidence of some bullying problem at work.
2. Undermining Work
Workplace bullying can be illustrated as an employee undermining or intentionally sabotaging another worker's work. It may involve setting a person up to sabotage, withholding information from someone in need, or making a colleague incapable of performing his or her job well. If you feel like an employee always works against another employee's success, then this is evil and can be equivalent to workplace bullying.
3. Unnecessary Blame or Criticism
The criticism for something, or a well-deserved reprimand, but without any fact basis-this is commonly one of the characteristics of workplace bullies. Someone is being repeatedly and unfairly criticized, particularly if there is no positive content in the criticism; that could be a form of bullying. Employees need to be treated with support, and criticism needs to be given in order to make someone better, not to destroy morale.
4. Exclusion and Ostracism
Exclusion or isolation may also be an overt indicator of bullying. A bully may exclude a victim from meetings, discussions, or social activities with the objective of causing isolation. It is highly detrimental to the confidence and feeling of belonging of an employee in the organization. If you feel that a person is continuously excluded for no sound reason, treat this as a red flag.
5. Excessive Monitoring or Micromanaging
The concept is that micromanaging in itself is a form of extreme bullying, intolerable monitoring work. If an individual-a manager or co-worker-is extremely critical to analyze the performance further punishable for unimaginable reasons with unjustified plausible arguments to require their need, then he builds the non-friendly environment. Employees are to be allowed to work independently and have some trust in doing things without being policed.
6. Blocking Opportunities
Workplace bullies will also try to deprive co-workers of training, leaves, promotion, or any other benefit that can be a cause for development and growth. Apart from suppressing growth for an individual, this can also reduce the morale of a team since resentment and mistrust may arise among its members. There should be room for all to get an opportunity for professional development; hindrances made to this signal bullying.
Conclusion
All these signs must be observed, employee to management. If any of these behaviors take place in your workplace, it is time to act. Respectful, open culture creates support, which prevents bullying and contributes to a healthy workplace. If you want to learn more on how to treat workplace bullying, read this E-book that is full of extremely useful tips and strategies.
It is time to assume responsibility and inform employees that this is a safe working environment, free from workplace bullying.
Workplace bullying is an issue that has permeated all the levels of fabric within an organization. It can be used to render the workplace reprehensible, decrease productivity, and destroy the psychological stability of the employees in the process. Understanding the signs in terms of workplace bullying is vital in maintaining a safe, respectful working environment. This article considers some of the behaviors that portend the presence of bullying within the workplace.
1. Gossiping and Spreading Malicious Rumors
One of the first identifiable signs is malicious rumors, or, put simply, gossiping. Lying about someone or distorting the truth about someone, the bullies usually aim it at other people. Ruining a person's reputation results not only in one person's damage but results in distrust among the group, too. Unfounded continuous rumors are actually evidence of some bullying problem at work.
2. Undermining Work
Workplace bullying can be illustrated as an employee undermining or intentionally sabotaging another worker's work. It may involve setting a person up to sabotage, withholding information from someone in need, or making a colleague incapable of performing his or her job well. If you feel like an employee always works against another employee's success, then this is evil and can be equivalent to workplace bullying.
3. Unnecessary Blame or Criticism
The criticism for something, or a well-deserved reprimand, but without any fact basis-this is commonly one of the characteristics of workplace bullies. Someone is being repeatedly and unfairly criticized, particularly if there is no positive content in the criticism; that could be a form of bullying. Employees need to be treated with support, and criticism needs to be given in order to make someone better, not to destroy morale.
4. Exclusion and Ostracism
Exclusion or isolation may also be an overt indicator of bullying. A bully may exclude a victim from meetings, discussions, or social activities with the objective of causing isolation. It is highly detrimental to the confidence and feeling of belonging of an employee in the organization. If you feel that a person is continuously excluded for no sound reason, treat this as a red flag.
5. Excessive Monitoring or Micromanaging
The concept is that micromanaging in itself is a form of extreme bullying, intolerable monitoring work. If an individual-a manager or co-worker-is extremely critical to analyze the performance further punishable for unimaginable reasons with unjustified plausible arguments to require their need, then he builds the non-friendly environment. Employees are to be allowed to work independently and have some trust in doing things without being policed.
6. Blocking Opportunities
Workplace bullies will also try to deprive co-workers of training, leaves, promotion, or any other benefit that can be a cause for development and growth. Apart from suppressing growth for an individual, this can also reduce the morale of a team since resentment and mistrust may arise among its members. There should be room for all to get an opportunity for professional development; hindrances made to this signal bullying.
Conclusion
All these signs must be observed, employee to management. If any of these behaviors take place in your workplace, it is time to act. Respectful, open culture creates support, which prevents bullying and contributes to a healthy workplace. If you want to learn more on how to treat workplace bullying, read this E-book that is full of extremely useful tips and strategies.
It is time to assume responsibility and inform employees that this is a safe working environment, free from workplace bullying.
This article above is concise but insightful, for a more complete guide of effective & step-by-step methods by 14 workplace bullying specialists view e-book link for preview and author and co-authors' introduction.
Workplace Mental Health Matters..
