Practice Preparation for these Predators

If you haven’t met one yet, I guarantee you will soon, they are the bullies in the workplace.  More often than not, they strike without warning and come at you when you least expect it.

Don’t be afraid, that’s what predators do.   But just as you protect yourself from scorpions, poisonous snakes, and other dangers in life, there are remedies available to you.

Video example of adult bully behavior

Bullies at work are becoming more aggressive lately due to apathy in some of the corporate leadership.

A December 28th, 2010 issue of USA Today article by  Laura Petrecca titled  “Bullying by the boss  is Common But Hard To Fix”  focuses on just these issues.  In it she writes about the Hooters restaurant chain’s treatment of their employees. The issue at hand is how 15 million TV viewers saw a Hooters franchise manager insist that servers (in their low cut uniforms) clasp their hands behind their backs and gobble up a serving of cooked beans face first.  The person who cleaned her plate first, got to leave early that day.

I have a copy of that video and use it in my bully busting training program and find the attendee response varies from ‘they asked for it’ to shock and revulsion.

Coby Brooks, president of Hooters, was part of the shoot for that CBS Undercover Boss episode and he stood there and did NOTHING.  Yes, he said “some lines you don’t cross” but he allowed the manager to continue degrading the women because he “didn’t want to break cover.”

What does it take then?  Would he stand by and watch physical abuse because he doesn’t want to break cover?  Why not just ask to stop the cameras, fire the bully manager, then complete the shoot with “I fired him on the spot because that type of behavior is unacceptable.”

Sadly, this kind of apathy by management occurs more often then we care to admit.

The oft repeated issue is that many find it difficult to determine when the line is crossed.  Is the person just a tough boss, or are they bullying staff?

An excerpt from Laura’s article “A big issue is that bullying is difficult to define. Is a demanding boss a bully or a perfectionist? Is a manager who says inappropriate things malicious or just tactless? “That’s one of the difficult things to grapple with,” says Joseph O’Keefe, a senior counsel at law firm Proskauer. “When does it rise above just being a mean boss and reach the level of bullying?”

As a general guideline, bullying occurs when a manager has an ongoing pattern of intimidating or demeaning behavior that can affect an employee’s health.”

There’s the rub.  What can you do if you think that you or a colleague are being bullied?  I have three recommendations:

1.  Visit the Healthy Workplace Bill website and see if your state has legislation in place that can help you.

2.  Check with your HR department to determine if you have policies or procedures in place for reporting bullying in your organization.

3.  Keep strong records.  Make note of the bullying behavior, date, time, infraction (even if it is a colleague and not you who are the target) so that when the time comes you have accuracy and documentation on hand.

Awareness is the beginning, education is the next step.  Let us be your partners in the solution to this painful problem.

Hire us to teach the “Bully Busting Seminar” to your staff.  We provide it as half day or full day program.  Use the contact page and get it scheduled.