Workplace bullying is harmful, targeted behavior that happens at work. It might be spiteful, offensive, mocking, or intimidating. It forms a pattern, and it tends to be directed at one person or a few people.
A few examples of bullying include:
Criticism or monitoring isn't always bullying. For example, objective and constructive criticism and disciplinary action directly related to workplace behavior or job performance aren't considered bullying.
But criticism meant to intimidate, humiliate, or single someone out without reason would be considered bullying.
According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, more than 60 million working people in the United States are affected by bullying.
Existing federal and state laws only protect workers against bullying when it involves physical harm or when the target belongs to a protected group, such as people living with disabilities or people of color.
Since bullying is often verbal or psychological in nature, it may not always be visible to others.
Read on to learn more about ways to identify workplace bullies, how workplace bullying can affect you, and safe actions you can take against bullying.
Bullying can be subtle. One helpful way to identify bullying is to consider how others might view what's happening. This can depend, at least partially, on the circumstances. But if most people would see a specific behavior as unreasonable, it's generally bullying.
Bullying behaviors might be:
Bullying behavior is repeated over time. This sets it apart from harassment, which is often limited to a single instance. Persistent harassment can become bullying, but since harassment refers to actions toward a protected group of people, it's illegal, unlike bullying.
Early warning signs of bullying can vary:
These incidents may seem random at first. If they continue, you may worry something you did caused them and fear you'll be fired or demoted. Thinking about work, even on your time off, may cause anxiety and dread.
Anyone can bully others. According to 2017 research from the Workplace Bullying Institute:
Bullying from managers might involve abuse of power, including negative performance reviews that aren't justified, shouting or threats of firing or demotion, or denying time off or transfer to another department.
People working at the same level often bully through gossip, work sabotage, or criticism. Bullying can occur between people who work closely together, but it also happens across departments.
People who work in different departments may be more likely to bully through email or by spreading rumors.
Lower level employees can bully those working above them. For example, someone might:
According to 2014 research from the Workplace Bullying Institute, people believed that targets of bullying were more likely to be kind, compassionate, cooperative, and agreeable.
Bullying may occur more frequently in work environments that:
Bullying can have significant, serious effects on physical and mental health.
While leaving a job or changing departments could end the bullying, this isn't always possible. Even when you can remove yourself from the bullying environment, the impact of bullying can last long after bullying has stopped.
If you're being bullied, you may:
Psychological effects of bullying may include:
Workplaces with high rates of bullying can also experience negative consequences, such as:
People who bully may eventually face consequences, such as formal reprimands, transfer, or job loss. But many types of bullying aren't illegal.
When bullying isn't addressed, it becomes easier for people to continue bullying, especially when the bullying is subtle. Bullies who take credit for work or intentionally make others look bad may end up receiving praise or being promoted.
When experiencing bullying, it's common to feel powerless and unable to do anything to stop it. If you try to stand up to the bully, you may be threatened or told no one will believe you. If it's your manager bullying you, you may wonder who to tell.
First, take a moment to remind yourself that bullying is never your fault, regardless of what triggered it. Even if someone bullies you by making it seem like you can't do your job, bullying is more about power and control, not your work ability.
Begin to take action against bullying with these steps:
If you're a member of a union, your union representative may be able to offer some guidance and support on how to deal with bullying.
You can also look into your employer's employee assistance program, if they have one. EAPs help you access resources to address a variety of issues that can affect your mental health and overall well-being.
Bullying can affect mental health and general well-being. In some cases, bullying can contribute to depression and thoughts of suicide.
If you have thoughts of suicide, reach out to a suicide helpline immediately. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There currently aren't any laws against workplace bullying in the United States.
The Healthy Workplace Bill, first introduced in 2001, aims to help prevent and reduce workplace bullying and its negative effects by offering protections to people who experience bullying. It can also help employers create antibullying policies and procedures.
As of 2019, 30 states have adopted some form of this bill. Learn more about the Healthy Workplace Bill here.
If you witness bullying, speak up! People often say nothing out of fear they'll become targets, but ignoring bullying contributes to a toxic work environment.
Workplace policies against bullying can help people feel safer about speaking up when they see bullying happen.
If you witness bullying, you can help by:
Bullying is a serious issue in many workplaces. While many companies have a zero-tolerance policy, bullying can sometimes be hard to recognize or prove, making it difficult for managers to take action. Other companies may not have any policies about bullying.
Taking steps to prevent workplace bullying can benefit organizations and the health of their employees. If you've been bullied, know you can safely take steps to combat the bullying without confronting the perpetrator. Remember to take care of your health first.