Psychological bullying in the workplace, also known as workplace mobbing, is a common problem. Although the terminology to refer to this situation is new, the phenomenon has existed in different forms since the beginning of the world of work. The definition of workplace mobbing would be “systematic and persistent harassment attacks that aim to intimidate, insult, overwhelm, exclude, ignore, disrespect, etc.” This means that the chosen victim is exposed to intentional and systematic bad behavior and bad language.
Currently, workplace mobbing is increasing compared to other types of harassment, which generates a series of negative effects on the work performance of workers and therefore of the company. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about workplace harassment, its definition and some examples.
Definition of workplace harassment or mobbing
Mobbing includes a group of people whose size is limited by the social environment in which it is formed, such as the workplace. To the person who is mobbed it may seem that there are many people involved, but in reality the group is usually small. Group members interact directly with the victim in an adversarial manner that ends up harming or undermining the victim significantly.
During mobbing, the target is tricked into fighting, blaming, and trying to hold responsible the minor aggressors in the mobbing group instead of the main perpetrator. The main reason a psychopathic boss bully gets his way repeatedly is that no one wants to believe that he/she could be the cause of what is happening. This is also why many pedophiles and abusers evade responsibility and punishment for years, often decades. They seem very charming and plausible to naive, ignorant and inexperienced people, usually those who have not experienced bullying on their part. Leaders are very prone to using people as resources and managing them as they wish, and thus manipulating them to continue harassing, victimizing and persecuting the target.
Workplace harassment: legal definition
The word mobbing refers to those situations in which a person is selected and intimidated by a group of people rather than just one person, but in each group there is usually a leader. If the leader is an extroverted type, it is clear that he is the one who is coercing the group members to do it, but if he is an introverted type, he will manipulate the group members from behind to do what he wants. . Introverted leaders are more dangerous than extroverted ones.
Workplace harassment: what to do
One rule when addressing a psychological harassment situation is to identify and focus exclusively on the bully principal and focus on holding him accountable. Alternatively, the best solution may be to make a positive decision to leave and refuse to allow these people to continue ruining your career, your health and your life. In the unlikely event that the leader is exposed and then leaves, the dysfunction, aggression, and negative feelings fostered by him or her are likely to continue for years.
Tips to deal with workplace mobbing
The best way to deal with workplace bullying is to increase resilience, improve self-care, and leave as soon as possible. Since in many cases it is practically impossible to win the battle against organizations that have mobbing tactics. Some things you can do to recover from workplace bullying are:
- Write everything in detail: from the first signs that something is not going well even to sensations or premonitions and record all the incidents you suffer in a kind of diary. The more evidence you have, the better it will be in case you are ever forced to take legal action.
- date time and space to resolve things. Find someone in authority at work who you can talk to about it.
- Form a support network to recover and end isolation. A good clinical psychologist can help you develop recovery strategies. It is essential to receive good advice and support from those close to you.
- Make the self care a priority. Focus on what you really want. And try to follow a balanced diet, do physical exercise or any activity that makes you enjoy.
- Start doing important activities in your life. Set new ones. Focus on improving your self-esteem by taking on new challenges.
Examples of workplace harassment
In a mobbing situation, the leader incites immature, inexperienced, or emotionally unstable people with low values to engage in bullying against the selected target. The leader receives gratification from encouraging others to engage in that type of interaction with the victim. Once you start psychological harassmentthe main bully encourages psychological bullying in a mutually assured destruction, from which the main bully receives intense gratification (this is a characteristic of people with psychopathic personality).
Below we will list the main examples of the:
- Vertical harassment or bossing: when the boss exercises some type of violence towards his subordinates.
- Upward vertical harassment: In this case, the aggression comes from subordinates.
- Horizontal workplace harassment: when mobbing occurs between colleagues at the same hierarchical level.
Consequences of workplace mobbing on the victim
Once we have talked about workplace harassment, its definition and examples. It is important to talk about the consequences that mobbing has on the people who suffer from it.
The effects of workplace bullying do not end when your workday is over. Being a victim of workplace mobbing has a series of negative physical and psychological consequencesyes:
- Stress
- Workplace harassment anxiety
- Sleep problems
- High blood pressure
- Ulcers
Effects of workplace mobbing on job performance
Those workers who suffer workplace mobbing usually have a worse performance at work:
- Problems making decisions
- Inability to work or concentrate
- Loss of self-esteem
- Low productivity
Workers who have suffered mobbing not only they lose motivation but they waste time because they are worried about:
- try to defend yourself
- Avoid mobbing
- Your support network
- Rumination about the situation
- Plan how to deal with the situation
Additionally, they have a feeling of isolation. In fact, the person who suffers from mobbing may feel powerless, disoriented, confused, etc.
Consequences of workplace mobbing in the company
Workplace mobbing not only has negative effects on the victim and their colleagues, but also on the company at a more macro level. In addition to altering the work environment and impacting worker morale, it can also:
- Reduce productivity
- Create a hostile work environment
- Promote absenteeism
- May incur costs for legal issues
Other costly effects of workplace bullying for the company include:
- Impact on employee commitment and loyalty
- Additional costs when searching and training new employees
- Bad public image and negative publicity
- Increased risk of legal action
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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