How to Deal with Bullying at Work
Thirty-four percent of women report having experienced bullying at work, according to a 2011 poll from CareerBuilder and Harris Interactive. And you thought you were done dealing with mean kids back in middle school! Unfortunately, adult bullying is common-- and difficult to deal with, too. When children are bullied, we see them as victims who need an adult to step in for protection. But when you are the adult, figuring out how to handle peers who are aggressive towards you tends to be much more difficult.
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So what is bullying? I see it as active intimidation or aggression directed towards a person for no good reason. Adults can actually be even more effective harassers than kids because we're able to use much more subtle and sophisticated forms of intimidation. Whether someone is sabotaging your projects, spreading unfounded rumors around the water cooler (or the old classic: stealing your lunch money), it's important to recognize this type of behavior as more than just competitiveness among colleagues, particularly when it is making you feel degraded or demoralized.
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As a grown-up, dealing with a bully can be a tricky situation. First, ask yourself: Can I address this situation myself? Sometimes simply confiding in a spouse or pal abut your troubles can help you deal with the emotional consequences of being pushed around and make your day-to-day life at work feel more manageable. However, if the situation continues to make you feel terrible, and interferes with your work, you may need to set up a meeting with human resources or your boss. Go to someone in a position to help you and who can act as a confidant and an ally.
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