Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsReasons for Bullying at WorkImpact of Leadership and Company CultureSigns of Bullying at WorkCoping With Bullying at Work
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Reasons for Bullying at Work
Impact of Leadership and Company Culture
Signs of Bullying at Work
Coping With Bullying at Work
Close
Every day, employees are abused and bullied at work. The issue of workplace bullying affects nearly one-third of all employees at some point during their careers, or 48.6 million Americans every year, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute.
A 2015 research review of studies in seven European countries and Australia found a workplace bullying rate of about 11%.Other studies suggest Asian countries have a higher rate.
The reasons for such bullying can be complex, and each situation is different. “Bullies often target individuals they perceive as more vulnerable or who won’t stand up to them,” saysAvigail Lev, PsyD, the founder and director of the Bay Area CBT Center.
This article looks at some of the causes of bullying at work and how leadership and company culture can contribute to such behavior. It also discusses how to recognize the signs of bullying at work and steps you can take to cope.
Workplace bullying can haveserious consequences, including increased distress, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.Understanding the causes of workplace bullying is an important step toward reducing and eliminating this behavior.
Some of the reasons why bullying at work happens include:
Professional Jealousy
Bullying at worksometimes happens because of the positive attention people get for their work. Some things that can attract the attention of workplace bullies include:
Lev notes thatinsecure overachievers, or people who rely on external validation to establish and maintain their self-worth, are sometimes the target of workplace bullying.
Social Envy
It is a myth that all victims of bullying are loners and outcasts with no friends or social connections. Often, it is the popular and well-liked workers that are most vulnerable to workplace bullying. If this describes you, bullies believe you pose a threat to their own popularity and social status at work.
Some bullies form cliques and target others who threaten their status or social standing. If you are well-liked at work, this could be the reason behind the attacks and jabs at you from the office bully.
Why Workplace Cliques Are Bad for Companies
Threats to Control
If you would describe yourself ascaring, social and collaborative, this may be the reason that you are being bullied at work. These characteristics drain a bully’s power.
Insecurity or Low Self-Esteem
If you are introverted, anxious, or submissive, you are more likely to be bullied at work than extroverted and assertive people. Insecure people withlow-self esteemare often more vulnerable to bullying at work. “Their vulnerability can be exploited, and bullies may employ tactics to undermine their confidence and make them feel inferior,” Lev explains.
There is also some evidence that depression and other stress-related conditions might attract the attention of bullies.Depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders should never be left untreated. Bullying can exacerbate your symptoms.
If you are living with any of these conditions, it is essential to get treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms.
Personality Characteristics
Lev also suggests that people with certain characteristics may be more likely to fall victim to workplace bullying. For example, people with codependent orpeople-pleasing traitsmay tolerate mistreatment, comply with unreasonable demands, or allow themselves to be demeaned to maintain harmony in the workplace.
In some cases, victims of bullying at work may have what Lev refers to as a ‘subjugation schema,’ which leads to a need to please others and avoid conflict. “They may comply with unreasonable demands or endure mistreatment to maintain harmony, making them targets for bullies,” Lev says.
In other cases, they may have a ‘failure schema or defectiveness/shame schema,’ a deep-seated belief that they are flawed and unworthy.
Bullies often exploit these insecurities to further demean and belittle their victims.
Prejudice
Some employees may be targeted due to theirgender, age, race, sexual preference, or religion. You also may be bullied if you have a disability or a medical condition.
Whatever the reason, workplace bullies single out and target people who are different from them in some way. They also tend to discriminate against others.
If you are being bullied for any of these reasons, you may have some legal recourse. Consider contacting theEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)to see if you can file a complaint.
10 Types of Discrimination to Be Aware Of
Lev also notes that personality characteristics and the general organizational culture often contribute to bullying at work. People in positions of authority may misuse their power and leadership positions to abuse the employees.
They may exploit their power to intimidate, control, or manipulate others, creating a toxic and hostile work environment. This can involve assigning unfair workloads, withholding resources, or unjustly using disciplinary measures.—AVIGAIL LEV, PSYD, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE BAY AREA CBT CENTER
They may exploit their power to intimidate, control, or manipulate others, creating a toxic and hostile work environment. This can involve assigning unfair workloads, withholding resources, or unjustly using disciplinary measures.
—AVIGAIL LEV, PSYD, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE BAY AREA CBT CENTER
Leaders with narcissistic traits, psychopathic traits, or entitlement/grandiosity schemas are more likely to engage in this bullying behavior. Lev notes that this is especially true if that person sees you as a threat.
In order to deal with bullying at work, it is important first to recognize the signs. Bullying may be subtle or overt. Workplace bullies may target their co-workers (peers, direct reports, even supervisors) with behaviors including:
If you are experiencing bullying at work, take steps to report it. You also should do what you can toconfront the bully; research shows that seeking help and assertiveness can improve psychological well-being.
If you are being bullied at work:
It is never a good idea to let workplace bullying continue without addressing it in some way. Even if you do not report the bullying, take steps totake care of yourself.
5 Tips For Dealing With a Difficult Coworker and Restoring Your Peace at the Office
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Workplace Bullying Institute.2021 WBI U.S. workplace bullying survey.
Sansone RA, Sansone LA.Workplace bullying: a tale of adverse consequences.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2015;12(1-2):32-37.
Samsudin EZ, Isahak M, Rampal S, Rosnah I, Zakaria MI.Individual antecedents of workplace victimisation: The role of negative affect, personality and self‐esteem in junior doctors’ exposure to bullying at work.Int J Health Plann Mgmt. 2020;35(5):1065-1082. doi:10.1002/hpm.2985
Bernstein C, Trimm L.The impact of workplace bullying on individual wellbeing : the moderating role of coping : original research.SA J Hum Res Manag. 2016;14(1):1-12. doi:10.4102/sajhrm.v14i1.792
Fang L, Hsiao L, Fang S, Chen BC.Effects of assertiveness and psychosocial work condition on workplace bullying among nurses: A cross‐sectional study.Int J Nurs Pract. 2020;26(6). doi:10.1111/ijn.12806
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
