What Are My Rights Regarding Bullying in the Workplace?
Posted February 6th, 2025.
Categories: Blog.
The last time you heard the term “bullying” it might have been on the playground. However, bullying in the workplace is a serious issue. According to surveys, an estimated 48 million Americans experience workplace bullying. Around 30% of workers have experienced bullying and 19% have witnessed the act. As an employee, you have the right to feel safe and secure in your work environment. If you have experienced workplace bullying and are wondering about your legal rights, contact a Cherry Hill employment law attorney for knowledgeable legal counsel and representation.
What is Workplace Bullying?
Workplace bullying involves an employer’s or worker’s demeaning or aggressive behavior toward another individual. It can be identified as an abuse of power used to intimidate, offend, degrade, scare, or embarrass a worker, often in a public setting. It is similar to bullying in schools but with a new dynamic of authority or perceived power.
A workplace bully constantly mistreats other employees and attempts to bring them physical or emotional pain. It can be found in the form of verbal, nonverbal, psychological, or physical abuse. Bullying does not discriminate against a position or level; anyone can be a workplace bully.
Examples of workplace bullying can include the following.
- Causing or threatening physical harm
- Spreading rumors and gossiping
- Frequent put-downs and insulting comments
- Undermining work by taking credit away from an employee or blaming them for something that is not their fault
- Excluding an employee by being cliquey, neglecting to invite them to meetings, or refusing to include them in
- certain activities
- Withholding important information like meeting times or details about work
- Making cruel jokes
- Yelling, screaming, and using offensive language
It is important to note that workplace bullying is not one comment or occasional unfair treatment. It is defined by repeated or constant behavior.
What Can I Do if I Am Experiencing Workplace Bullying?
If you are experiencing workplace bullying it is crucial that you take action. If you do not fight back against their behavior, your bully will continue to engage in aggressive and unkind actions.
Begin by documenting every incident of bullying in detail. This information will be vital in strengthening your case. Jot down the date and time of each occurrence, where it happened, the name of the bully, what they did or said with as much detail as possible, if anyone else was present, the effect it had on you, etc.
You probably received either a physical or digital employee handbook when you first got your job. Review the information about the company’s policies regarding bullying and protocols to follow.
If your bully is a colleague, report the issue to your supervisor. It is your manager’s job to look out for you so they should take proper action. If your manager is bullying you, report it to HR.
Speak to an employment lawyer before or after you make an official complaint. You may not fully understand your rights but it is important that your company respects them. An attorney can help ensure the process follows proper procedures and that you do not face retaliation for filing a report. Reach out to an employment lawyer today for more information.
