Maryland authorities are stepping up on efforts to address the issue of bullying – and not only in schools but in other venues as well. Are you aware that bullying occurs at the workplace as well? Based on the article published by the Washington Post:
There is evolving research indicating that bullying is a potentially lethal form of abuse that affects people of all ages. It happens not only in schools but also increasingly on the Internet and via cellphones, in neighborhoods and summer camps, between siblings, as hazing among young adults, and in the adult workplace. During the past two decades, bullying has been linked to hundreds of deaths worldwide, underscoring the need to address this urgent public health issue.
You and I both know that bullying has been around for as long as anyone can remember. Sometimes, we dismiss it as superficial – children will be children, boys will be boys (even if they are already full grown men!), and so on. What we may not have realized is that bullying has a potential to physically, emotionally, and psychologically harm both parties – the bully and the victim!
Think about your own work situation. Is there an office bully who likes to pick on the people around him? The chances are that there is at least one. I can think of one or two people in my workplace who are like that. Is there anything being done about it?
Nope. Unless it significantly hinders productivity and something really big happens, I don’t think that any action will be taken. Shall we wait till that happens, though?
Originally posted on April 21, 2008 @ 11:27 am