While some bullies have multiple targets, others harass a single person. Workplace bullying isn’t always obvious, so a bully’s behavior may go undetected if it’s not reported.

Just because this type of bullying often involves adults doesn’t mean that it’s something that people always know how to handle. The truth is, the psychological effects of bullying can be damaging and painful, regardless of age. Read on to learn how to identify and stop bullying at work.

Identifying Workplace Bullying

Bullying in the workplace can take many forms and creates a toxic workplace and environment. While some bullies may be openly hostile towards targets, others may behave in subtler ways. While the term harassment describes a single instance of behavior, bullying is persistent, repeated acts and aggression against a victim.

Types of bullying

Warning signs of workplace bullying

Ultimately, alltypes of bullyingcan share similar warning signs to a certain extent, but some of the following are specific to the workplace environment. Knowing the signs can help if you suspect someone is being bullied at work. It can also help you identify ifyouare dealing with a bully.

Effects of Workplace Bullying on HealthBullying in the workplace isn’t just uncomfortable and embarrassing. It can have a lasting impact on someone’s physical and emotional well-being.Researchshows that workplace bullying can predict future mental health problems like anxiety anddepression.Not only does bullying have lasting consequences for victims, it can also be damaging to the workplace environment and culture — even after the bullying has stopped.Physical effectsBullying at work can increaseworkplace stressandanxiety, which may lead to physical symptoms like:Elevated blood pressureHeadachesLoss of appetiteNausea and digestive issuesDifficulty sleepingUlcersMuscle achesHeartburnResearchhas also linked the stress of bullying to increased risk for Type II diabetes. People who suffer from chronic stress are more likely to develop heart disease, too. While bullying is sometimes treated as harmless, the fact is it can have a serious and lasting impact on the health of the victim.Mental effectsBeing the target of bullying can negatively affect both mood and emotional well-being. Effects may include:A loss of self-esteemLosing interest in activitiesDepression and anxietyConstantly dreading workDifficulty trusting othersPanic attacksSuicidal ideationThese effects tend to become more pronounced the longer the bullying continues, and they can persist even after the behavior has stopped. Victims of bullying may need to work with mental health professionals to overcomeself-doubtand rebuild self-confidence.“If you or someone you care about has been bullied, we encourage you to speak with a licensed therapist to process your experience. When we experience something traumatizing or negative, we need to process the experience and integrate what has happened. The guidance of a trained licensed therapist can help you through this process and let you move forward with your life. You deserve support!”Talkspace therapist Kate Rosenblatt, MA, LPC, LMHCHow workplace bullying affects the workplaceWhen an employer fails to respond to bullying in an appropriate and timely way, it can have severely negative consequences, such as:Higher rate of employee absencesIncreased turnover ratesA decline in productivityDecreased moraleLost trust of employeesLegal action costsEffects on job performanceBullying is a significant distraction that can interfere with a person’s ability to do their job. When someone’s being bullied, they may be less productive and spend their time:Trying to avoid the bullyWorrying about future abuseStruggling with anxietySeeking support from co-workersAttempting to defend themselves from the bullyOngoing harassment from a bullycan be traumatizing, making it difficult for bullied workers to focus on tasks. People who are bullied at work are more likely to make mistakes and will often take longer to complete their work, which can decrease the productivity of the entire team.Effects on workplace environmentBullying can be disruptive to the entire workplace culture and have a negative impact on all workers, even those who aren’t being bullied. It creates a hostile work environment for all. Workplace bullying can:Increase employee turnoverHarm the company’s public imageInterfere with employee teamworkEncourage poor behavior in employeesLead to a hostile work environment

Effects of Workplace Bullying on Health

Bullying in the workplace isn’t just uncomfortable and embarrassing. It can have a lasting impact on someone’s physical and emotional well-being.Researchshows that workplace bullying can predict future mental health problems like anxiety anddepression.

Not only does bullying have lasting consequences for victims, it can also be damaging to the workplace environment and culture — even after the bullying has stopped.

Physical effects

Bullying at work can increaseworkplace stressandanxiety, which may lead to physical symptoms like:

Researchhas also linked the stress of bullying to increased risk for Type II diabetes. People who suffer from chronic stress are more likely to develop heart disease, too. While bullying is sometimes treated as harmless, the fact is it can have a serious and lasting impact on the health of the victim.

Mental effects

Being the target of bullying can negatively affect both mood and emotional well-being. Effects may include:

These effects tend to become more pronounced the longer the bullying continues, and they can persist even after the behavior has stopped. Victims of bullying may need to work with mental health professionals to overcomeself-doubtand rebuild self-confidence.

“If you or someone you care about has been bullied, we encourage you to speak with a licensed therapist to process your experience. When we experience something traumatizing or negative, we need to process the experience and integrate what has happened. The guidance of a trained licensed therapist can help you through this process and let you move forward with your life. You deserve support!”

Talkspace therapist Kate Rosenblatt, MA, LPC, LMHC

How workplace bullying affects the workplace

When an employer fails to respond to bullying in an appropriate and timely way, it can have severely negative consequences, such as:

Effects on job performance

Bullying is a significant distraction that can interfere with a person’s ability to do their job. When someone’s being bullied, they may be less productive and spend their time:

Ongoing harassment from a bullycan be traumatizing, making it difficult for bullied workers to focus on tasks. People who are bullied at work are more likely to make mistakes and will often take longer to complete their work, which can decrease the productivity of the entire team.

Effects on workplace environment

Bullying can be disruptive to the entire workplace culture and have a negative impact on all workers, even those who aren’t being bullied. It creates a hostile work environment for all. Workplace bullying can:

How to Deal with Workplace Bullying

Helping Someone Deal with Workplace Bullying

It isn’t always easy to speak up when you see bullying in the workplace. You may be afraid that confronting a bully will make you a target, but it’s important to remember that ignoring bullying will only make the issue worse.

Don’t hesitate to report bullying to your employer, even if you weren’t directly impacted. If one of your coworkers is being repeatedly bullied, your report could significantly improve their life.

“If you’re the victim of workplace bullying, knowing your rights and the resources available to you can be critical to determine the next steps needed to heal. Speaking with a therapist about your experience and your options, as well as the pros and cons of those options, may help you take the next right step for you.”

The effects of workplace bullying aren’t just limited to victims. When there’s a bully in any environment, it harms everyone. That’s why it’s crucial for companies to establish policies aimed at how to prevent bullying.

If you’re being bullied at work, we know how hard it can be to speak up. Don’t be afraid to take steps to protect your mental health and well-being. With a strong support system, you can recover from bullying and improve your work environment.

If you feel that you’re dealing with workplace bullying, a toxic workplace, and don’t have a good support system, you might want to consider therapy and access a mental health professional who can help you develop a strategy.

Therapy can offer you guidance and support from experienced mental health experts. You deserve to live and work in a peaceful, safe environment. Nobody has the right to take those things from you. Learning to navigate the hostility you’re facing can help you realize that you’re strong and can face anything, even your bully.

Talkspace is a therapy platform that can help you get the critical therapy you need to manage workplace bullying. Talk to anonline therapisttoday.

Sources:1. 2021 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey. Workplacebullying.org.https://workplacebullying.org/2021-wbi-survey/. Published 2021. Accessed July 17, 2022.2. Einarsen S, Nielsen M. Workplace bullying as an antecedent of mental health problems: a five-year prospective and representative study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2014;88(2):131-142. doi:10.1007/s00420-014-0944-7.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24840725/. Accessed July 17, 2022.3. Xu T, Magnusson Hanson L, Lange T et al. Workplace bullying and violence as risk factors for type 2 diabetes: a multicohort study and meta-analysis. Diabetologia. 2017;61(1):75-83. doi:10.1007/s00125-017-4480-3.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29130114/. Accessed July 17, 2022.4. McKay R, Fratzl J. A Cause of Failure in Addressing Workplace Bullying: Trauma and the Employee. International Journal of Business and Social Science. 2011;2.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228518578_A_Cause_of_Failure_in_Addressing_Workplace_Bullying_Trauma_and_the_Employee. Accessed July 17, 2022.

Sources:

  1. 2021 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey. Workplacebullying.org.https://workplacebullying.org/2021-wbi-survey/. Published 2021. Accessed July 17, 2022.

  2. Einarsen S, Nielsen M. Workplace bullying as an antecedent of mental health problems: a five-year prospective and representative study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2014;88(2):131-142. doi:10.1007/s00420-014-0944-7.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24840725/. Accessed July 17, 2022.

  3. Xu T, Magnusson Hanson L, Lange T et al. Workplace bullying and violence as risk factors for type 2 diabetes: a multicohort study and meta-analysis. Diabetologia. 2017;61(1):75-83. doi:10.1007/s00125-017-4480-3.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29130114/. Accessed July 17, 2022.

  4. McKay R, Fratzl J. A Cause of Failure in Addressing Workplace Bullying: Trauma and the Employee. International Journal of Business and Social Science. 2011;2.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228518578_A_Cause_of_Failure_in_Addressing_Workplace_Bullying_Trauma_and_the_Employee. Accessed July 17, 2022.

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