Q: Last week you answered a reader’s question by labeling the problem as “bullying at work”, but I thought that “harassment” covered any bullying at work. Am I wrong?
A: Yes, you are. Actually, harassment and bullying -although similar- are quite different. For starters and most importantly, harassment is illegal, whereas bullying at work is not. It may be poor practice, bad for business and unethical, but it’s not illegal.
Let’s contrast and compare harassment vs. bullying:
Target and motive – Harassers are usually motivated by some sort of discriminatory sentiment -be it gender, race, nationality, religion– so their victim will fit one these categories, the most common of course is sexual harassment. In contrast, bullies are motivated by insecurity and cowardice and will target someone they perceive as a threat -or conversely as weak- and over whom they can exert power.
Obviousness: Bullying usually involves covert and repeated undermining of the target’s reputation or confidence. It’s often psychological; in fact, targets may not realize they are been bullied for weeks or even months. Harassment is more overt in nature, and has more physical manifestations -texts, cartoons, inappropriate touching. A person who’s being harassed usually knows it quickly.
The negative effects – Studies have found that those who are bullied are more stressed, anxious, develop more health problems and have lower self esteem than those who were victims of (sexual) harassment. Whereas most companies have a clear way to report harassment, it’s more difficult to complain to management about bullying, and this adds to the target’s feelings of powerlessness.
Unlike the US., Canada, Australia and the U.K. have legislation addressing bullying at work. But, I’m not one for more legislation of the workplace; I think we have plenty and most of it would be unnecessary if companies had –and enforced- good policies.
My advice? Prevention. Discuss differences between harassment and bullying, and make them both culturally unacceptable. Then add some teeth by creating a policy that’s part of a wider commitment to a safe and healthy workplace. Get the full support of top management by pointing to one big negative these two have in common: they’re both terrible for business. For more info Visit: http://www.workplacebullying.org/
© Copyright Eva Del Rio
