22/09/2021
Corporate bullying does not get as much airtime as social and school bullying. But it’s more prevalent than we want to admit. Often disguised as “results-driven” management( note I didn’t use the word leadership), it is one of the biggest causes of stress in the workplace, leading to absenteeism and, in many cases, attrition.
Very often, the bully is the company’s rainmaker, so no-one wants to touch them. Their performance is superb, often supported by the very people they treat badly. They think the words “ please and thank you” weaken their authority, and never acknowledge the hard work and long hours by those who support their success. They lack EQ ( emotional intelligence).
Thankfully, more and more companies recognise the toxic nature of these personality traits, and the negative impact they have on talent management and retention. But those affected need to speak up and call out such individuals. The majority of big companies now have Whistleblower channels that allow employees to report such behaviour. The more people speak up, the sooner these issues will be dealt with, and the happier and more productive people will be.
