The workplace bully can easily be identified when there are escalations in chaos and workplace tension because bullies are often central figures who receive credit for all infamous deeds and sometimes heroics. Bullies harbor resources, information, and knowledge and undermine every operational process. However, workplace bullies do not suddenly emerge but are fueled by imbalances in the organizational culture and slowly nurtured to take their unfair share of the workplace power. What is the definition of a workplace bully? It…..
Adams Equity Theory of Job Motivation may help to explain how some workplace policies and procedures, noninclusive reward and recognition programs, and unfair growth and development practices may help create bullies in the workplace. Based on needs and expectations, employee satisfaction depends on fair inputs and outputs. When an imbalance occurs, and unfairness is perceived, employee retention drops, accident and injury increases, and employee competition for limited resources increase.
The growing pressure to become fully vaccinated leaves some individuals feeling bullied and without reasonable choices and personal freedoms. For example, employers may mandate vaccination, or employees may face mandatory testing or other penalties if they are not vaccinated. During these difficult times of feeling pressured to conform, how do we make good decisions based on the greater good? Psychology informs us that conformity is neither good nor bad until we assign a social reward, threat level, or fear type……
Everyone has bully tendencies when they feel threatened or have unmet needs that are difficult to resolve. The five-factor personality traits model contains five categories of personality traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The five-factor personality traits may give rise to great leaders and compassionate community helpers when balanced with other social checks and norms. However, there are extremes in personality expression within the five-factor model that may give rise to anti-social personality disorders that often describe…..
There are similarities and differences between peaceful protesters and angry mobs or rioters. A peaceful protester and an angry riotous mob are similar in that they are symbolic of a system problem of unheard and unaddressed needs. However, the two groups are different in that intentional harm is the motive for riotous mobs, and peaceful protesters march without harming others to be heard. When the two groups merge, a new system problem emerges to form a triad consisting of bullies,…..
Social distancing is a unique situation that might reduce bully-type behaviors from individuals who may prey on the marginalized. Without an audience or the rewards found in social groups, the bully may seek other ways to satisfy their unhealthy unmet needs and drives. However, there are bully personalities who thrive on microaggression and covert methods to maintain an imbalance of power when separated from their target. When individuals are advised to practice social distancing, the bystander becomes essential as they…..
The hoarding behaviors that are occurring over the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic may not be a form of bullying. If a person already has bully-type responses, then hoarding behaviors may be an extension of their personality and embedded personality disorders. However, hoarding during times of extreme stress and fear is a normal human response because humans have individual comfort and survival needs. If these needs remain unmet for some time, the flight or fight response is activated and induces…..
The bully triad consists of the bully, the bystander, and the victim. When bullying occurs, the toxic relationship between members creates moral injury. Moral injury occurs in individuals and groups when forced participation of events occur either through active or passive means, where the violation of member values and beliefs or spirituality is disrespected and reduces the meaning and significance of life. Moral injury for the bully triad members creates feelings of emotional guilt and shame, betrayal, and cognitive dissonance……
The bully-free cost structure is an abstract concept that is often buried within other budgets and attended too only in crisis. A bully management and prevention program requires a specific budget that will include continuous improvement in the organizational culture, communities, and home environments. For example, outdated policies and procedures may need to be rewritten, and employee assistance programs implemented and funds reserved for personal counseling as needed. However, don’t overlook the shared and free resources in the community that…..
Once bullying occurs, there seems to be a knowledge gap on what to do next. Individuals and organizations must become knowledgeable of the laws, policies, and regulations regarding bully-type events. Questions to ask are what the state and local laws regarding harassment, extortion, hate crimes, bullying, assault, stalking, or cyberbullying are so that protective action is possible. If the bullying event is determined to be criminal, then the individual or organization must seek legal counsel and act as advised. Also,…..