bullying

 Bullying implies an intention to harm, intimidate or coerce an act when there is an imbalance of power and the act is a cause for distress and provocation. Bullying may be verbal, physical or mental in nature and a whole spectrum of acts can constitute bullying. 

It can become a source of trauma for children and young adults and remain with them their whole lives, often leading to mental distress and depression, and in extreme situations, even suicide.

What is central to bullying is an imbalance of power dynamics. Bullies are usually physically stronger than the people they bully. It can be described as a show of strength to undermine or denigrate someone’s dignity to gain sadistic pleasure out of it. 

What most people don’t know, however, is that many people who show violent behaviour and engage in bullying, themselves have low self esteem and are insecure and anxious.

Bullying is a common phenomenon in schools and universities throughout the country and there has been a concerted effort to put an end to bullying and ragging in our educational institutions.

Some examples of Bullying in the workplace are:

• Spreading untrue and ill intentioned rumours, gossip, or innuendo.
  Excluding or alienating someone socially.
• Coercing a person to do an act.
• Physically abusing or sexual harassment.
  
• Constantly changing work guidelines and requirements.
  
• Making unrealistic deadlines that set up the individual to fail.
  
• Withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information.
  
• Making jokes that are offensive by spoken word or e-mail.
  
• Intruding on a person’s privacy by pestering, spying or stalking.
  
• Underwork – creating a feeling of uselessness.               
• Yelling or using profanity.
• Criticising a person persistently or constantly.
• Belittling a person’s opinions.
• Unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment.
• Blocking applications for training, leave or promotion.
• Tampering with a person’s personal belongings or work equipment.

There is no law which deals directly with bullying in the workplace but there are other laws which regulate behaviour of individuals in a work environment.