Workplace bullying is persistent behaviour that leaves a person feeling intimidated, undermined, excluded, controlled, humiliated or psychologically unsafe.
Bullying can occur between managers and employees, colleagues, teams or organisations and may be obvious or subtle.
A single difficult interaction is not necessarily bullying. Workplace bullying is more often characterised by patterns that develop over time and create distress, fear or loss of confidence.
Examples may include:
• Persistent criticism or fault finding
• Exclusion from meetings, communication or opportunities
• Excessive monitoring or micromanagement
• Public humiliation or being spoken to disrespectfully
• Being treated differently from colleagues without clear reason
• Unreasonable deadlines or constantly changing expectations
• Blocking progression or limiting opportunities
• Undermining credibility or spreading misinformation
• Withholding information needed to perform effectively
• Repeated questioning of competence without evidence
• Intimidation, coercion or inappropriate pressure
• Digital bullying through messages, email or communication platforms
Why Does Workplace Bullying Happen?
There is rarely one simple explanation.
Workplace bullying is usually better understood as a pattern of behaviour rather than a fixed personality type.
Bullying may emerge in environments where there is poor leadership, unclear accountability, high pressure, unhealthy workplace culture, fear based management or unresolved conflict.
At an individual level, bullying behaviour may sometimes be linked to insecurity, poor emotional regulation, a need for control, competitiveness, difficulty tolerating difference or learned patterns of relating.
None of this excuses harmful behaviour.
Why Am I Being Targeted?
People who experience workplace bullying often assume there must be something wrong with them.
Usually this is not the case.
Research and clinical experience suggest people may become vulnerable to workplace bullying because they:
• Are highly competent or reliable
• Challenge poor practice or unhealthy culture
• Are well liked or respected
• Work differently from established norms
• Have strong values or boundaries
• Refuse to participate in workplace politics
• Are experiencing illness, stress or reduced capacity
• Are new to a role or organisation
• Are highly conscientious or self critical
• Find conflict difficult and prioritise maintaining harmony
Bullying is not evidence that you are weak or inadequate.
The Impact of Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying can affect emotional wellbeing, physical health, relationships and confidence.
Common experiences include:
• Anxiety
• Low mood or depression
• Loss of confidence
• Increased self doubt
• Sleep difficulties
• Exhaustion
• Reduced concentration and memory
• Irritability or anger
• Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
• Panic symptoms
• Physical tension and headaches
• Digestive difficulties
• Hypervigilance or constantly feeling on edge
• Withdrawal and isolation
For some people, prolonged bullying can contribute to trauma related symptoms and continue to affect life after leaving the workplace.
How Can Therapy Help?
Experiences of workplace bullying can leave people questioning themselves, losing trust in others or feeling stuck between coping and leaving.
Therapy is not about encouraging people to tolerate unhealthy environments.
Depending on your circumstances, therapy may support you to:
• Understand the impact bullying has had on you
• Rebuild confidence and trust in your judgement
• Reduce self blame and self criticism
• Develop emotional regulation and coping strategies
• Strengthen boundaries and assertiveness
• Make decisions about staying, leaving or raising concerns
• Process distressing experiences and reduce ongoing impact
• Reconnect with values, identity and self confidence
There is no single therapeutic approach that works for everyone.
Therapy is tailored to the person, their goals and the specific impact the workplace experience has had on them.
If workplace experiences continue to affect your wellbeing, support is available.
