7 Steps to Tackle Bullying At Work – Stop Bullying Quickly

Enhance.training
1 Dec 202214:01
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this insightful video, Jess Coles, a seasoned manager, shares her personal experience with workplace bullying and outlines seven essential steps to combat it. From understanding company policies to gathering evidence, initiating informal conversations, seeking support from managers and allies, escalating to HR, and potentially legal action, the script provides a comprehensive guide to tackle bullying, emphasizing the importance of courage and determination in preserving one's well-being and performance at work.

Takeaways
  • πŸ˜” Bullying at work is a serious issue that can negatively affect an individual's confidence, focus, time, and motivation.
  • πŸ“š It's crucial to understand the company's policy on bullying through the employee handbook or policy document to know the procedures and protections available.
  • πŸ” Collecting evidence of bullying is essential, including documenting incidents, times, and places to demonstrate a clear pattern of negative behavior.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Having an informal conversation with the bully can be a powerful step in addressing the issue and potentially stopping the bullying behavior.
  • πŸ‘₯ Building alliances with colleagues who may also be experiencing or witnessing bullying can strengthen the case and support needed to address the issue.
  • πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ Standing up to bullies requires courage and determination, and it's important to be prepared for possible denial, anger, or increased bullying tactics.
  • πŸ’Ό If the bullying continues after an informal conversation, it's important to involve the manager and seek their support in addressing the issue.
  • πŸ†˜ Escalating the issue to HR and senior management is necessary if the bullying persists despite previous steps and manager intervention.
  • πŸ›οΈ As a last resort, if internal measures fail, external escalation to lawyers and tribunals may be considered, though this is a time-consuming and stressful process.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Being bullied by a manager is especially challenging, but the same steps of gathering evidence and seeking support should be followed, with extra care due to their influence.
  • πŸ‘ The video emphasizes the importance of taking proactive steps to confront bullying, as inaction can lead to worse outcomes for the victim.
Q & A
  • What is the impact of bullying at work on an individual's performance and motivation?

    -Bullying at work can sap an individual's confidence, focus, time, and motivation, leading to a decrease in performance and overall unhappiness at work.

  • Why is it important to address bullying at work instead of ignoring it?

    -Ignoring bullying can give the bully free reign, likely leading to the continuation or escalation of bullying behavior, which further harms the victim's well-being and work performance.

  • What percentage of the workforce has experienced bullying according to various studies?

    -Around a third of the workforce has personally experienced bullying, with nearly another third having witnessed it at work.

  • What is the definition of bullying behavior in the context of the script?

    -Bullying is defined as repeated behavior meant to hurt and control another person, distinct from one-off mistakes or insensitive actions.

  • Why is it crucial to understand the reasons behind being singled out by a bully?

    -Understanding the reasons can help address the bully's concerns and insecurities in a constructive way, potentially stopping the bullying without appeasing the bully.

  • What is the first step to tackle bullying at work according to the script?

    -The first step is to check your company's policy, which should outline the rules and procedures for dealing with breaches, including bullying.

  • Why is collecting evidence of bullying important and what should it include?

    -Collecting evidence is essential to demonstrate a clear pattern of negative behavior. It should include what happened, when, and where, and should be collected as soon as possible.

  • What is the purpose of having an informal conversation with the bully and what should it involve?

    -The purpose is to confront the bully about their behavior and seek a resolution. It should involve setting out the bullying behavior, asking for reasons, negotiating a settlement, and warning about escalation if the behavior continues.

  • What should you do if the bullying does not stop after an informal conversation with the bully?

    -If the bullying persists, the next step is to speak to your manager, presenting the issues, the evidence collected, and the outcome of the informal conversation.

  • What is the role of allies in tackling workplace bullying and how can they help?

    -Allies can support the victim by providing additional evidence of bullying, strengthening the case, and applying pressure on the bully to stop their behavior. They can also help in escalating the issue to higher management if necessary.

  • What are the potential actions to take if bullying continues despite following the internal steps?

    -If internal steps fail to stop the bullying, the victim may need to escalate the matter externally to lawyers or tribunals, although this should be considered carefully due to its time-consuming and stressful nature.

  • What is the recommended approach when dealing with a manager who is the bully?

    -The same steps of gathering evidence, having an informal conversation, and escalating to HR and senior management should be followed. However, the evidence and approach should be even more convincing and professional due to the manager's influence.

  • What is the final advice given in the script for someone struggling to confront a bully personally?

    -The script suggests asking others, such as your manager or allies, to confront the bully on your behalf, emphasizing the importance of being proactive and demonstrating to the bully that the victim will not tolerate the treatment.

Outlines
00:00
😞 Workplace Bullying: Impact and Initial Steps

The first paragraph introduces the negative impact of workplace bullying on an individual's confidence, focus, and motivation. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the issue rather than ignoring it, which could lead to further deterioration. The speaker, Jess Coles, outlines seven steps to tackle bullying, highlighting that it is a widespread problem affecting nearly a third of the workforce according to various studies. The paragraph also mentions that bullying can happen to anyone, regardless of their professional level, and introduces the channel's purpose of sharing business and people management expertise.

05:01
πŸ” Identifying Bullying and Gathering Evidence

This paragraph delves into the process of recognizing bullying behavior, distinguishing it from one-off mistakes by focusing on repeated, harmful actions. It advises considering the reasons behind being targeted and suggests addressing the bully's concerns constructively. The main focus is on checking the company's policy on bullying and starting to collect evidence of bullying incidents, such as exclusion from meetings or personal attacks, to demonstrate a pattern of behavior. The importance of documenting these incidents is stressed to build a case for addressing the bullying.

10:01
πŸ—£οΈ Confronting the Bully and Seeking Support

The third paragraph discusses the strategy of having an informal conversation with the bully to address the behavior directly. It suggests a structured approach to these conversations, including setting out the bullying behavior, negotiating a resolution, and warning of further action if the behavior continues. The paragraph also covers the importance of speaking to one's manager about the issue, finding allies among colleagues, and escalating the matter to HR and senior management if necessary. The advice is to be prepared for various reactions from the bully and to maintain pressure on all fronts to stop the bullying.

βš–οΈ Escalation and Legal Remedies

The final paragraph addresses the most severe cases of bullying, where internal measures have failed, and external escalation is necessary. It discusses the option of involving lawyers and tribunals as a last resort, weighing the costs and benefits of such a course of action. The paragraph also provides specific advice for situations where the manager is the bully, emphasizing the need for detailed evidence and allies to counteract the manager's influence. It concludes with a summary of the steps to tackle bullying and an encouragement to apply these steps with courage and determination.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Bullying
Bullying in the context of the video refers to repeated behavior intended to hurt and control another person in a workplace setting. It is a key theme as the video discusses its negative impact on individuals' confidence, focus, and motivation. The script mentions that bullying can be subtle, such as exclusion from meetings or personal attacks, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing it.
πŸ’‘Confidence
Confidence is portrayed as a state of self-assurance that can be eroded by bullying. The video suggests that tackling bullying can help restore one's confidence, which is integral to performing well at work and maintaining a positive self-image. An example from the script is the assertion that bullying 'saps your confidence'.
πŸ’‘Emotional Resilience
Emotional resilience is the capacity to recover from and cope with bullying emotionally. The video underscores the importance of this trait for dealing with workplace bullying, as it enables individuals to manage their emotions and take constructive action against the bullying behavior.
πŸ’‘Workforce
The term 'workforce' is used in the video to describe the collective body of employees within a company. It is mentioned in relation to statistics about the prevalence of bullying, with nearly a third of the workforce having personally experienced it, according to various studies.
πŸ’‘Policy
In the video, 'policy' refers to the formal rules and procedures set by a company to guide behavior and address misconduct, including bullying. The script advises checking the company's policy as the first step in tackling bullying, highlighting its role in providing a framework for addressing such issues.
πŸ’‘Evidence
Evidence, in this context, pertains to the documentation of bullying incidents, which is crucial for proving the pattern of negative behavior. The video instructs viewers to collect evidence by noting what, when, and where bullying incidents occur, as this is essential for taking action against the bully.
πŸ’‘Informal Conversation
An 'informal conversation' is suggested by the video as a method to address bullying directly with the perpetrator. It is presented as a step where one can express their experience, seek an explanation, and negotiate a resolution, ideally stopping the bullying behavior.
πŸ’‘Manager
A 'manager' in the video represents a person in a leadership role within an organization who can influence the work environment. The script discusses the importance of involving one's manager in addressing bullying and also addresses the difficult scenario where the manager themselves may be the bully.
πŸ’‘Allies
Allies are individuals who can support and corroborate a victim's experience of bullying. The video suggests finding allies as a strategy to strengthen one's case against a bully, especially when multiple employees are targeted or when escalating the issue to higher management.
πŸ’‘Escalation
Escalation, in the context of the video, refers to the process of taking progressively formal steps to address bullying, starting with informal conversations and potentially leading to formal grievances or legal action. It illustrates a systematic approach to dealing with persistent bullying.
πŸ’‘Grievance
A 'grievance' is a formal complaint made by an employee against their employer or another employee, detailing a violation of their rights or mistreatment. The video mentions lodging a formal grievance as part of the escalation process if bullying persists despite earlier efforts.
πŸ’‘HR (Human Resources)
HR, or Human Resources, is the department responsible for employee relations and workplace policies within an organization. The video describes escalating bullying issues to HR as a critical step when informal methods fail, as they can take formal actions to address the problem.
πŸ’‘Tribunals
Tribunals are formal hearings or courts where disputes are resolved, often used as a last resort in cases of unresolved workplace bullying. The video discusses the option of escalating to tribunals as a difficult but necessary step when internal mechanisms fail to stop the bullying.
Highlights

Bullying at work can significantly impact an individual's confidence, focus, time, and motivation.

Inaction towards workplace bullying can lead to its continuation or escalation.

Seven steps are provided to tackle bullying at work, offering a structured approach to addressing the issue.

Nearly a third of the workforce has personally experienced bullying, with another third witnessing it, according to various studies.

Bullying is often subtle, making it difficult to identify and address without clear patterns of behavior.

The importance of understanding the reasons behind bullying behavior to address it constructively is emphasized.

Checking the company's policy on bullying is the first recommended step to understand procedures and available protections.

Collecting evidence of bullying is crucial, especially since most bullying actions are subtle and require a pattern to be recognized.

Having an informal conversation with the bully can be an effective way to confront the issue and seek resolution.

If informal conversations fail to stop bullying, speaking to a manager is the next recommended step.

Finding allies who have also experienced or witnessed bullying can strengthen a case and increase pressure to stop the behavior.

Escalating the issue to HR and senior management is necessary if previous steps do not resolve the bullying.

External escalation to lawyers and tribunals may be considered as a last resort if internal measures fail.

Being bullied by a manager presents unique challenges, and the transcript provides specific advice for this situation.

The importance of maintaining professionalism and gathering convincing evidence when dealing with a bullying manager is highlighted.

The transcript concludes with a summary of the seven steps and encouragement to take action against workplace bullying.

The video offers support and advice for those struggling with workplace bullying, emphasizing the courage and determination required to confront it.

Transcripts
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