The office is a place that comprises diverse personalities and characters with whom many of us have to interact daily. This interaction continues throughout our work life until we retire.

Sadly, though, some of the people we will encounter along this path may be bullies or even hypocrites and, yes, they will have co-conspirators. The office might be far from the playground, but it is not out of bounds to bullies.

According to research from Workplace Bullying Institute, “Workplace bullying is repeated health-harming mistreatment of one or more people (the targets) by one or more perpetrators. It is abusive conduct that is threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, or work interference, [that is], sabotage, which prevents work from getting done.”

Some of us may be able to recognise intimidators quicker than others as this behaviour may come from the most improbable person. They are not always obvious because they are subtler than other aggressors and will impact differently from normal workplace stress. One of the main differences between classroom and workplace bullying is that it tends to be less physically harmful and more psychological and verbal in nature. These oppressors employ a strategic and targeted approach in inflicting maltreatment on their prey and will sadistically smile while doing so. Sadly, most of the times, these people are in a management position, maybe a learned professor or one that may have more degrees than a thermometer.

We may have been defenceless against the classroom bully, but now that we are employed, those lessons should have taught us something. So since this experience is not new, we should have at least learnt how to spot an intimidator and be able to manoeuvre our way around them. They exude what appears to be self-confidence, but actually this is a facade used to conceal their insecurities, and they will play the hypocrite when necessary. This is not the time to be naïve, so stay focused. People become targets because something about them is threatening to the bully.

The organisation in which you are employed will be the one responsible for policies and procedures. However, upon your employment you will not find a documented policy that speaks to office bullying included amongst the bunch of papers in your orientation folder. Further, your trusted job description will outline a set of duties and responsibilities, but at the end you will find this clause/statement, “Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.” This is a loaded clause that should not be taken lightly, so adjust your spectacles and read it again.

It is at this point that you must come to the full realisation that the organisation that you have practically sworn to serve and protect will not return the favour. The Human Resources Department (HRD) is not subordinate friendly, but more a management pawn.

A bully is committed to psychologically destabilising his target. Whether or not they succeed will be totally dependent on the targeted individual. There is minuscule evidence that organisations provide effective protection from bullying. Now that you are aware of the odds, do not be daunted— stand your ground and mount a defence.

sandra.currie@utech.edu.jm