Emotional Abuse in the Workplace

(Originally published in my sports page column Self-Propelled

in the Dec. 18 to 24, 201 issue of the Baguio Chronicle

--- a weekly newspaper based in Baguio City, Philippines.)

WORKPLACE harassment by employers or managers should have no place in today's world. This is a fairly unrecognized issue yet is a serious problem affecting many people.

The level of emotional and psychological abuse in the workplace is difficult to determine. There are many horror stories of workplace stress that violate labor laws that are surfacing to employment lawyers.

Workplace bullying is usually seen as acts or verbal comments that can mentally hurt or isolate a person in the workplace. Bullying involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behavior that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people. It’s also described as the assertion of power through aggression.

Sometimes workplace harassment by employers can be very subtle or obvious. Some examples may be: excluding or isolating someone from certain benefits or opportunities; intimidation; undermining or deliberately impeding the employee from working; removing areas of responsibilities without just cause; constantly changing work guidelines; withholding information or providing wrong information; assigning unreasonable duties; not providing enough work to create a sense of uselessness; yelling or using profane language or persistently criticizing the employee.

People who are victims of workplace abuse may experience a range of effects. These reactions include shock, anger, total frustration, anxiety, increased sense of vulnerability, inability to sleep, loss of appetite, panic attacks about going to work, headaches, pains, inability to concentrate, or low morale and productivity.

WHAT TO DO

ALWAYS keep a daily journal to log what happened, the time it occurred and if there were any witnesses. Include as many details as possible about each incident. This information will be highly beneficial if the situation warrants outside intervention. Be sure to keep the journal private from other employees and place it in a safe location. Keep hardcopies (at your home) of any letters, memos, emails or faxes received by the employer or manager.

It is very important to never retaliate to a given situation as you may end up looking like the perpetrator. Remaining calm and appearing as though everything is fine is a very difficult yet necessary task and will take its toll. Be sure to have a support system of family and friends. Talking will release some of the stress. Finding safe methods of stress reduction is crucial to maintain good physical and mental health.

If you know someone who is suffering from workplace abuse be sure to provide as much support as possible. If you feel you are being bullied, discriminated or subjected to any form of harassment you need to get help. A place to start is the Department of Labor.*

*SOURCE: http://www.suite101.com/content/emotional-abuse-in-the-workplace-a73977