Did you know that it can cost a company up to eight months' salary to replace a staff member who left in haste? Not to mention the fact that, in his last few months of employment, he is unlikely to have been fully productive, often being engaged only 50% of the time, due to bullying.
Workplace bullying doesn't just affect productivity, it can also take a serious toll on the emotional wellbeing of the victims, leading to anxiety, depression, eating disorders and low self-esteem, among other things - things that they will struggle with long after the bullying has ended.
It is important for employees to know that this type of behaviour cannot be tolerated.
When an employee leaves the company, he leaves a mess behind, which takes valuable time and resources to mend. Even once a new employee has been hired it takes three months before he becomes productive and adds value to a business. When you multiply that by the number of people who have left the company for the same reason, it starts to add up. Bullying is a power game and the common offender is usually a manager with low emotional intelligence. He often wants to control every situation and everyone around him.
If you are the boss of a large organisation, it is not always easy to spot an office bully. Bullies are usually cunning, coming across to their superiors as hard workers, so they often move up quickly within the company structure. While you may not always be able to pinpoint the perpetrators, it is important that you do everything in your power to prevent office bullying. The following steps will demonstrate your commitment to your employees:
While legal action can be taken against intolerable working conditions, it can often be an extremely lengthy process. So what should you do if you are a victim of bullying in the workplace?
It is important that everyone in the workplace is aware of the consequences of bullying and that those who are victims of this terrible endemic feel supported enough to speak out. This will not only save the company a substantial sum of money in the long run, it will also allow your employees to feel valued in the job that they perform on a daily basis.
