How to Fight Back Against the Office Bully

Elizabeth Lombardo, a Chicago-based psychologist, says bullied workers often have difficulty concentrating, making decisions and mentally and physically being effective at their job.

"People who are bullied for a prolonged period of time can start to develop psychological issues such as low self-esteem, depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms," says Lombardo. "Bullying also adversely affects performance, productivity, morale and the company's bottom line."

Lombardo adds that workplace bullying can be particularly challenging for workers age 50 and up. "Older workers can experience age prejudice and stereotypes, such as 'older people can't keep up with new technology,' which can lead to condescending comments, assumptions about abilities, and avoidance of working with older coworkers. They can experience resentment from younger coworkers, too, who may be jealous of the success of someone with more experience," she says. The challenge of finding a new job as an older worker can add to their stress and feeling of being trapped in their current position, she adds.

Workplace intimidation can also be more harmful to the physical and mental health of age 50-plus workers. "Research shows that stress has a greater impact on older adults versus younger adults. This can come in the form of cognitive effects like difficulty concentrating, emotional effects such as feeling more anxious, and physical effects like a weaker immune system," says Lombardo. "For some who are 50 and older, these are crucial years to be making money, so there is the stress of needing to be employed, being fearful of trying to find another job or being fired because of their age or their cost to the company."

What you can do

If you believe you are the target of a workplace bully, the first step is to realize that you are not alone, powerless or at fault. The second step is to diagnose and acknowledge the problem, and the last, to do something about it before it gets worse.

"Start to keep a private daily log of incidents. Include direct quotations whenever possible, and save related emails and relevant materials," recommends Deb LaMere, vice president of employee engagement at Minneapolis-based Ceridian. Next, seek advice from someone you trust in your organization. Talk with your manager if the bully is a coworker, customer or vendor. If your boss is the bully, talk with a trusted HR representative. Refer to your employer's policy on harassment in your employee handbook or intranet. Your company's employee assistance program can also provide confidential support.

Additionally, LaMere suggests these tips:

• Try to stay calm in the bully's presence and avoid emotional reactions.
  
  
• Look the bully in the eye when you're being targeted.
  
  
• Speak in a steady, controlled voice when responding to the bully.
  
  
• Take good care of yourself by getting enough rest, talking to supportive friends and practicing deep-breathing exercises.
  
  
• Consider looking elsewhere for employment.

The good news is that, as of this writing, 30 states have introduced some version of anti-bullying legislation, better known as the Healthy Workplace Bill.

The bad news is that office bullying is not yet protected against by law, unless there is physical abuse or it can be shown that you are being targeted because of your race, gender, nationality, age, sexual orientation or other status protected by law, says Marc J. Siegel, labor and employment attorney with Siegel & Dolan Ltd. in Chicago.

"This makes it difficult to seek recourse through legal channels," Siegel notes. "But if you aren't in any of the protected classes I mentioned, you can still take your complaint to HR, ask them to initiate an investigation, and hire an attorney to send a complaint letter."

You can do all that while looking for a new position.

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