Workplace Bully

Contributed by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D, author of “Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited”.

• Workplace bullying is also known as “workplace harassment” or “mobbing”.
• Tim Field of bullyonline.org defines workplace bullying as a “persistent, unwelcome, intrusive behavior of one or more individuals whose actions prevent others from fulfilling their duties.”
• Workplace bullying is repeatedly attacking someone verbally or physically with the intent of causing hurt, humiliation, belittlement, isolation and discrimination.
• Sexual harassment and racial, gender, disability, and age discrimination are also forms of workplace bullying.
• The bully can be an employer, peer, subordinate, or even client or supplier.
• The typical bully uses aggression and violence to compensate for overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. Some bullies suffer from mental health disorders (such as the Narcissistic, Paranoid and Antisocial personality disorders).
• Most bullies lack self-discipline, the ability to pursue long-term goals, or to work in a team. According to the United Kingdom (UK) National Workplace Bullying Advice Line, bullies feel entitled to special treatment, seek attention, lack empathy, are rageful and envious, exploit and then discard their co-workers, and are consummate liars. In other words, bullies are emotionally immature and are exploitative control freaks.
• Bullying is a traumatic, stressful experience that often results in the mental breakdown and otherwise ill-health of the victim. Physical and mental health problems, fatigue, low functioning, and even suicide are common. The victims can no longer be productive at work and are sometimes forced to resign even as the bully is rewarded and promoted.
• Surveys in the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the USA indicate that physical violence in the workplace is rare, but one in five workers is exposed to verbal and emotional abuse. The direct and indirect costs - in healthcare, increased workloads, stunted creativity, staff turnover, reduced productivity, absenteeism, and corporate dysfunction - may amount to circa $40 billion in the UK and $200 billion in the United States.
• Only few countries - such as Sweden and the United Kingdom - have specific laws which tackle workplace violence, abuse, and bullying.
• Workers and employers lack education on how to recognize abuse, curb it, and effectively cope with its aftermath.
• Workplace bullying is exacerbated by socially-sanctioned conduct such as denial, narcissism, exploitation, and rampant competition.

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