Are You Being Bullied?

Consistent bad behaviors may be signs of bullying at the office

Bullying is epidemic with 47% of workers reporting experiencing hostility at work in the last year.  It robs the workplace of productivity and costs employers billions in lost wages, sick time, and turnover.  Many organizations are taking steps to make sure that their work culture is bully free through education and training so employees recognize when bullying is happening.

Here is a Workplace Aggression Research Questionnaire developed by researchers from the State University of New York in New Paltz and Wayne State University.  It helps identify subtle bullying behaviors.  Take this quiz to see if you are a target for bullying.  Occasional insults don’t count.  Bullying occurs when the behavior has occurred on a regular basis for six months.

 In the past six months, have you regularly:

1. Been glared at in a hostile manner?
2. Been excluded from work-related social gatherings?
3. Had others storm out of the work area when you entered?
4. Had others consistently arrive late for meetings that you called?
5. Been given the “silent treatment?”
6. Not been given the praise for which you felt entitled?
7. Been treated in a rude or disrespectful manner?
8. Had others refuse your requests for assistance?
9. Had others fail to deny false rumors about you?
10. Been given little or no feedback about your performance?
11. Had others delay action on matters that were important to you?
12. Been yelled at or shouted at in a hostile manner?
13. Had others consistently fail to return your telephone calls or respond to your memos or e-mail?
14. Had your contributions ignored by others?
15. Had someone interfere with your work activities?
16. Been subjected to mean pranks?
17. Been lied to?
18. Had others fail to give you information that you really needed?
19. Been denied a raise or promotion without being given a valid reason?
20. Been subjected to derogatory name-calling?
21. Been the target of rumors or gossip?
22. Shown little empathy or sympathy when you were having a tough time?
23. Had co-workers fail to defend your plans or ideas to others?
24. Been given unreasonable workloads or deadlines–more than others?
25. Had others destroy or needlessly take resources that you needed to do your job?
26. Been accused of deliberately making an error?
27. Been subjected to temper tantrums when disagreeing with someone?
28. Been prevented from expression yourself (for example, interrupted when speaking)?
29. Had attempts made to turn other employees against you?
30. Had someone flaunt his or her status or treat you in a condescending manner?
31. Had someone else take credit for your work or ideas?
32. Been reprimanded or “put down” in front of others?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it is time to talk with HR about your work environment. 

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