What Is Bullying
Workplace bullying refers to repeated and unreasonable actions directed towards one or more workers that can lead to physical or psychological harm. It includes behaviors that intimidate, degrade, humiliate, or undermine an individual or their work performance. Bullying can be overt, such as verbal abuse and physical aggression, or it can be more subtle, such as isolating a person from their colleagues or persistently criticizing them unfairly.
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In New Zealand, as in many other places, workplace bullying happens for a variety of reasons, including:
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1. Organizational Culture: A workplace culture that tolerates or even encourages aggressive behavior can lead to bullying. If there is a lack of strong leadership and inadequate policies to address inappropriate behaviors, bullying can become embedded in the workplace.
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2. Power Dynamics: Differences in power and status can contribute to bullying. Individuals in positions of authority may bully subordinates, and sometimes subordinates may bully each other to compete for favor or advancement.
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3. Personal Factors: Personal conflicts, jealousy, or personal insecurity of the bully can also drive bullying behavior. Those who feel threatened by another employee’s competence or popularity might resort to bullying to undermine their peer’s standing or confidence.
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4. Lack of Accountability: In environments where there are inadequate systems for reporting and addressing misconduct, bullies often feel they can act with impunity.
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5. Stress and Work Pressures: High levels of stress and demanding work environments can exacerbate tensions and lead to bullying, especially if there is a lack of support from management.
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The impact of workplace bullying can be severe, affecting the mental and physical health of victims and leading to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover rates. In New Zealand, there are legal frameworks and resources designed to combat workplace bullying, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, which requires employers to provide a safe working environment. There are also guidelines provided by WorkSafe New Zealand to help organizations prevent and respond to workplace bullying.