Many who experience bullying during their childhood may perceive going into adulthood as a solution to their problematic situation. But does bullying really stop when you leave school? Unfortunately bullies are not only found at school but quite a few are represented by adults who may resurface at your workplace making your day and your job you worked so hard for less rewarding.
It is a known fact that bullies have a problem of their own. They are unhappy individuals who find pleasure by making others feel miserable. Whatever their problem is, it is never fun to be on the receiving end. Sadly enough, people who are bullied feel there’s something wrong with them and that there’s something shameful about the fact that people are treating them badly. Showing disapproval with the bully may also increase the intensity of the attacks and therefore we end up keeping our frustration, withdraw ourselves and allow our thoughts to eat us away. What’s worse is that we may think that something is wrong with us or that maybe we’re in the wrong job.
If you’re on a receiving end you should know that you’re not alone. Studies show that bullying at the workplace is real and that some of us either experience or witness it. It is also believed that those targeted by bullies tend to suffer adverse health effects.
Bullying at the workplace can come in various forms such as suffering backstabbing, having your efforts undermined by lack of cooperation, having your work criticised unfairly or having others taking credit for your own achievements. Experiencing these situation is stressful and may tarnish your reputation and perceived abilities if you don’t act on them.
How to deal with workplace bullying
Bullying is fairly common in the workplace especially in very competitive fields such as insurance. It can be dealt with in various ways. Firstly, find people you trust that are mature enough to understand your situation and who can offer support. Such people can act as advocates and give you back your confidence. Observe well how you’re being bullied in order to document your experience and reflect back on what’s happing over time. Being able to recognise occurrences yourself will put you in a better position to identify them before they degenerate and gives you enough time to reach out to colleagues including your superiors or those in the human resources department. Ultimately, if you feel that you have other reasons to let go of your job you might also wish to consider a new career in Malta.
Knowing how to face bullying is not meant to help you survive the day but to be a respected person and feel appreciated. Weakness is the first sign that a bully identifies before choosing a target. Self-confidence is key and it is you the primary person who needs to stick up for yourself.
For any guidance about your career and to discuss new job opportunities please do not hesitate to contact our team at VacancyCentre or [email protected]