Recognizing The Signs: Early Indicators Of Bullying In The Workplace

In the social services sector, creating a safe and supportive environment is crucial for both staff and the clients we serve. To foster a culture of respect and inclusion, it is important to identify early indicators of bullying in the workplace.

Repeated and unwanted actions and practices directed at an individual that often involves power imbalance in the workplace. ^[1]

OR

Actions that are known or reasonably known to cause humiliation or intimidation. ^[2]

According to The Work Environment Hypothesis by Heinz Leymann (1990) which has been supported by much research, an organization with the following factors are likely to have bullying occur in the workplace: ^[3]

Unsure if you’re being bullied? Answer this questionnaire from Canadian Workplace Bullying Institute: https://instituteofworkplacebullyingresources.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Am-I-Being-Bullied-Self-Assessment-Tool-v01-2024.pdf

Signs: Subtle, indirect aggression that is difficult to recognize and evolves out of a dispute at times

Symptoms: Confusing, increased anxiety, isolating, and impacts productivity

Response: Report to your supervisor, communicate boundaries, and confide in trusted colleagues

Signs: More direct negative baviours that include public humiliation and intimidation

Symptoms: Intensified isolation, feelings of shame, depression, and impacts ability to focus thereby reducing productivity 

Response: Document incidents and report the behaviour to your employer

Signs: Social and professional isolation including exclusion from conversations, spread of rumors, lack of support, and unfair treatment.

Symptoms: Fear of speaking up, isolation, feelings of shame, increased anxiety, feelings of self-doubt, sense of helplessness, and loneliness

Response: Seek professional support, focus on self-care, and continue to document and report the behaviour

Sign: Prolonged bullying

Symptoms: Overwhelming anxiety, deep depression, intense shame, physical symptoms such as headaches, paranoia, and helplessness

Response: Seek professional support, document and report to WSBC, and explore alternative options such as transferring to another program or seeking employment elsewhere

Download a printer-friendly PDF on Responding to Indirect Aggression to prevent escalation into Direct Aggression.                            

If your employer has not taken reasonable steps to address the situation, call WorkSafeBC’s Prevention Line at (604) 276-3100 (1-888-621-7233 toll free).

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