Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying is when someone’s aggressive behavior is intended to intimidate or humiliate you. Their hurtful, degrading actions are driven by a need to control. Bullying is deliberate and often intended to sabotage the work or reputation of people the bully targets. Examples of bullying include:
- Verbal abuse, such as shouting
- Unnecessary, often hurtful, criticism
- Practical jokes that can be humiliating
- Excessive micro-management or intense scrutiny of your work
- Deliberately leaving you out of team meetings, etc., or isolating you from others
Bullies target people they think are vulnerable and can’t fight back. They assume the target won’t report them. Bullies are dominating, and usually quick-tempered and opinionated. Their behavior can result in a high rate of turnover, increased absenteeism, more accidents on the job and a loss of productivity.
Our workplace is made up of colleagues with many different backgrounds and personalities. Knowing what is bullying and what is not is important. Healthy conflict is not bullying. Examples of healthy conflict include:
- Mutually respectful conversations with differing opinions
- Challenging ideas
- Asking difficult questions
If you believe you are being bullied and need immediate assistance, please contact Security at 270-745-1350.
If you need to report a bullying situation, please contact one of the following:
- Call Teresa Cottrell in Human Resources at 270-745-1546
- Email HRbp@mchealth.net to reach an HR Partner
- Call James Monroe in Security at 270-745-1349
