From the time we entered the social scene as children, bullies were a fact of life. We found them in the neighborhood, at school and, sadly in workplaces. In a 2024 survey, the Workplace Bullying Institute found that 32% of working Americans reported being bullied, while a staggering 72% were aware of bullying in their workplace.
Bullying is about power and is characterized by repeated, intentional behaviors by individuals whose purpose is to intimidate, degrade, humiliate or undermine another employee. A bully may start out alone, but their behavior infects the workplace and may lead to isolation, due to others not wanting to become the next target.
The result of bullying creates psychological and/or physical harm to the target, including a loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, stress, depression, sleep and/or digestive problems.
The good news is that bullies can be stopped! The steps below will walk you through how to thwart bullying in your workplace.
Thankfully, many employers have strict policies against bullying. Check with your HR department regarding any applicable policies or guidelines.
If you are feeling the effects of bullying, One Source EAP can help with 24/7/365 access at 800-300-0628.
All calls and services are strictly confidential.
How To Stop A Bully
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." You can put a stop to bullying and regain your self-esteem by:
- Recognizing that you are being bullied - you are not the problem
- Document all bullying behaviors in a detailed journal
- Seek support from a trusted person, such as a co-worker or close friend.
- If you feel safe, speak directly to the bully
- Report the behavior to a manager or HR.
- Prioritize your health and wellbeing by contacting One Source EAP.
Register for the October Seminar, “Bullying In The Workplace”
Employees of RWJBH and those of One Source EAP client companies may join the October One Source EAP 30-minute seminar, “Bullying In the Workplace,” on Thursday, October 16th at 12:00 PM via Zoom. View the full list of 2025 monthly seminars and to register for this and/or any of the upcoming sessions.
The replay of the September seminar, “Building A Kinder Workplace,” can be accessed here. From the dropdown, select the company where you work.
Visit our seminar page to review the complete Seminar Catalog, which includes several new workshops. Schedule a seminar for your team.
