Shockingly, around a third of employees have claimed to have experienced microaggression from a manager
*NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. WORDS: KATY HOLLAND. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): ALAMY, GETTY
Many of us thought we had left bullying behind after leaving school. However, it seems that the workplace has become the new playground, with research finding that one in three employees has been bullied at work.
Bullying in the workplace is rife in every industry, with women 11% more likely than men to be the victims. In fact, a Trades Union Congress poll carried out last year found that 58% of women had been sexually harassed, bullied or verbally abused while trying to do their job.
‘It’s a huge problem,’ says Christine Pratt, founder of the UK’s National Bullying Helpline. ‘We’ve had distress calls from nurses, carers, pilots, firefighters, solicitors – the list goes on. We often have more than 4,000 visitors to our site every day, searching for advice on how to deal with workplace bullying.’
So what exactly constitutes bullying? Although there’s no legal definition, it generally refers to repeated behaviour that is unreasonable or abusive. It can take place face to face as well as remotely, and common examples include intimidation, humiliation or constant criticism. Many victims report being repeatedly singled out for unpopular shifts or tasks. And bullying isn’t just the preserve of those in power – it may come from our peers too.
Sometimes, accusations of bullying are brushed away as personality clashes by employers. But if the behaviour is aggressive, dismissive or disregards your rights or boundaries then it’s a serious issue. While some bullying is easy to spot, it’s frequently less tangible, and gaslighting is commonplace.
The impact of this can be devastating. Being bullied at work is one of the biggest contributors to stress-related health problems, including debilitating feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and suicidal thoughts. It’s been linked with many health issues, from headaches to high blood pressure and even strokes and cardiovascular disease. So what can be done to stop bullying once and for all?
Woman delves deeper into the issue and speaks to two women about their toxic workplace experiences.
‘I STOPPED SLEEPING AND HAD PANIC ATTACKS’
Joanne,* 52, from Birmingham, left her job in finance after being bullied so badly that it affected her health.
