One in ten employees are bullied!

One of the biggest morale killers that affects businesses is bullying – one in ten employees are subject to some form of bullying in the workforce and as the owner of your small business it is up to you to put a stop to it.

However, it’s not always an easy task to notice the intimidating behaviour and bullying can carry on unnoticed for a long time, slowly attacking at the company’s morale.

Not only morale will be affected of course, but there will also be a rise in absence and a serious drop in productivity.  However, putting those factors aside, we must also remember the consequences bullying can have on people’s personal lives as well and how devastating it can be for the individual.

Indicators to look out for…

There are a few indicators that you as an employer should keep your eyes open for before they become more serious than they already are.  However the signs may not always jump out at you so stay aware.

•    Domineering supervision of an employee
•    Imposing tedious tasks
•    Standing in the way of a worthy promotion or training
•    Demoralising a competent employee by giving them a ridiculous amount of work and unnecessary criticism
•    Unwillingness to delegate
•    Always changing targets
•    Failing to provide the correct information
•    Blocking or checking communications such as mail or telephone calls

If you notice these activities taking place in your office then you should do something to stop it before it gets out of control.  The best course of action to take in this situation is to have a policy in place.

The policy, that every employee should be made aware of, should highlight the steps that an employee should take if they are being made to feel bullied or harassed.

Lead by example…

There is of course the fact that an employer should lead by example in such a situation.  Employers should introduce and maintain fair policies when it comes to employees and be ready to be as supportive as possible when a complaint is lodged with regards to bullying.

A good way to bring about the necessary attention to the businesses policy towards bullying would be to publish an organisational statement to all employees within the business outlining the behaviour that is expected of them.

Within this statement you will also be able to express the punishment they should expect if found to be diverting from the expected rules.

Sometimes the whole bullying issue can seem a little too overwhelming so don’t be afraid to seek out professional advice.  Acas is a well-known and trusted organisation that will be able to provide advice and will help you to decide upon the best plan to take when dealing with the issue.

What about you?

Do you have any stories about bullying in the workplace?  Maybe you were a victim and have some advice for others in the same position?  Maybe you have advice for employers in such a difficult position?  Let us know!

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