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Bullying
in the workplace is increasing on a global scale, and the workplace
bully literature and research reveal some very disturbing facts about
its prevalence and effects.
Even
as far back as 2005, Australian data revealed that workplace bullying
was costing business around $6-13 billion annually in absenteeism,
stress leave, staff turnover recruitment costs, and lost productivity;
while more recent research in the US (by the Workplace Bullying Institute
[WBI]) found that "Bullying is 4 (four) times more prevalent than illegal, discriminatory harassment," which includes such things as discrimination due to race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, or age.
The most salient findings of the WBI Workplace Bullying Survey
are that "Bullies bully with near impunity", while "Targets lose their jobs to make the bullying stop in 77% of cases."
Further, more recent research conducted by Know
Bull!
not only supports the WBI findings, but reveals alarming information
about staff suicide resulting from the effects of workplace
bullying, and the imperative for workplace bullying having its own
'criminal category' via the introduction of a 'new' statutory course of action encompassing the notion of 'the deliberate and/or intentional infliction of a hostile work
environment'...under which organisations, and workplace bullies could be prosecuted.
Note: The full (17-page) Know
Bull! report can be obtained from
this link: Report 'Extent and Effects of Workplace Bullying
Survey, 2010' [pdf-261kb]
Unfortunately, the workplace bully literature suggests "that the worse an offender a workplace bully is, the harder they can be to cure", and that it may even be
impossible for them to learn how to mitigate, or control their
behaviour when their behaviour is reinforced by their employer
ignoring the 'damage' they cause, or worse still - by being given
'rewards' such as promotion and salary bonuses.
Sadly, it's generally the most competent, and well-rounded staff who
find themselves as the 'target' of a workplace bully.
Typical 'targets' of workplace bullies are generally ethical, independent, fair, well-liked, intelligent and self-assured.
Research is increasingly finding that workplace bullies select these individuals
for no other reason than the bully perceives them as a 'threat'.
And when the workplace bully directs their unrelenting stream of harm - they do so with two purposes in mind: to reduce the target’s performance and self esteem, while
simultaneously increasing the workplace view of their own self
importance.
There
are a number of ways you can participate in 'Workplace Bullying
Awareness Month', and Know Bull! Day
(03 June 2012). Your participation can either be 'passive', or
'active' - ranging from forwarding this website page to a colleague or
friend - to making an anonymous report via this website to the senior
management of your organisation who may (or may not) be aware that
your workplace is currently a safe haven for workplace bullying
behaviours.
'Workplace
Bullying Awareness Month', and Know Bull! Day is your chance to become part of the workplace bullying 'solution'. If you, or someone you know is being targeted by a
workplace 'bully' make the choice to not sit on the fence.
To
participate,
choose from any of the following options:
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1. Send this page
to friends or colleagues by clicking on the text link on the
left.
In reality, workplace bullies often see 'silence', or the
refusal to acknowledge/address workplace bullying as
'permission' to keep doing what they're doing. The bottom line
is that no organisation can afford to ignore, or keep a
'workplace bully'...they're just too damn expensive! They exact
their toll at a health and safety level (human cost); an
organisational level (productivity and profitability); a
legislative level (possible court action); and have the
potential to negatively impact on an organisation's previous
'good' name (organisational profile).
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Know Bull!
"Extent and Effects of Workplace Bullying Survey"
Report.
[Full
Report is 261kb-17 pages]
Key Findings "Extent and Effects of Workplace Bullying
Survey"
[2 pages-85kb]
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2.
The ‘type’ of information being sought
by the Extent and Effects of Workplace Bullying Survey was both quantitative and qualitative, and included: a. Do workplace bullies employ ‘preferred’ tactics; b. What are the predominant health effects of workplace bullying on targets; c. When workplace bullying is brought to the attention of organisations – are they dealing with it effectively; d. Can increasing trends in workplace bullying be identified; e. Does the information provided by participants in this survey correlate with the key findings of other research into workplace bullying, such as the renown Workplace Bullying Institute-Zogby U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey conducted in 2007; and f. What are the implications of the findings of the Extent and Effects of Workplace Bullying survey on businesses and organisations in general?
Note: Click on the icons on the left to download files.
Report is available in 2 versions: 17-page Full Report, and
2-page summary of Key Findings.
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3. Promote
'Workplace Bullying Awareness Month', by
downloading and printing our FREE A4 poster (167kb).
Click
here to download this poster.
Photo Credit: Oktaviani Marvikasari, Indonesia
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4. Promote
'Workplace Bullying Awareness Month', by
downloading and printing our FREE A4 poster (276kb).
Click
here to download this poster.
Photo Credit: Glenn Pebley, Florida, United States
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5. Promote
'Workplace Bullying Awareness Month', by
downloading and printing our FREE A4 poster (175kb).
Click
here to download this poster.
Photo Credit: Emre Nacigil, AYDIN, TR, Turkey
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6.
Display your support for Know Bull! Day 2011, by purchasing a
lapel badge from our online
store.
With a variety of designs and career sectors to to choose from,
these badges measure 5.7cm (2.25") in diameter. By default,
the prices of items in the store are in $US and fluctuate
against the $AU depending on the exchange rate. Proceeds from the sale of Know Bull!
badges assist with Know Bull's ongoing operational costs.
Click here to view
a pdf (255kb) sample of
Know Bull! anti-bullying designs.
Click here
to view all
the Know Bull! Day anti-bullying designs,
or visit the Know
Bull! online store to
view other anti-bullying items. |
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7. And if
you're feeling game...or just looking for a 'special' gift for a
friend or a colleague that will definitely raise 'awareness'
about workplace bullying... consider purchasing a coffee mug
from our online store.
They're a bit on the
'cheeky' side, but one thing you can be sure of, is you won't be
finding these coffee mugs in Kmart or Woolies any time soon!
To see the text and detail on our 'She-Bully' mug click
here.
To see the text and detail on our 'He-Bully' mug click
here.
To see the text and detail on our 'Bully Myths' mug
click
here.
All mugs come in a small and a large size - and can be
viewed in the
Know Bull!
online store by clicking
here.
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Contribute
your 'workplace bullying' story
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8. Contribute your
own
workplace bully story to the
Know Bull! website, by clicking on the text link on the left.
First person accounts of workplace bullying incidents are often required for research purposes, and in the production
of articles. If there is sufficient distance between you and a
past workplace bullying incident, and you feel comfortable about
relating your own personal experience about bullying in the workplace
- consider forwarding your story to Know Bull!
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9. Not too sure if you’re the ‘target’ of a workplace bully? If so, you wouldn’t be
alone. Download our 1-page questionnaire: "Are you
being targeted by a workplace bully?"
It’s not until people see a ‘list’ of behaviours being perpetrated against them - that they
realise they could very well be the ‘target’ of a workplace bully.
The questionnaire is by no means a definitive list of bullying behaviours.
However, it does outline the most ‘used’ and ‘prominent’ behaviours that bullies
employ against their chosen targets.
Click here to download the
questionnaire.
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10. Promote 'Know Bull! Day', by
downloading and printing our FREE A4 poster (256kb). Posters can
also be used in your e-newsletters, or e-magazines. (The 'acorn'
is symbolic of 'big' things growing from 'little' things ;)
Click
here to download this poster.
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11. Promote 'Know Bull! Day', by
downloading and printing our FREE A4 poster (151kb). Posters can
also be used in your e-newsletters, or e-magazines.
Click
here to download this poster.
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12. Promote 'Know Bull! Day', by
downloading and printing our FREE A4 poster (148kb). Posters can
also be used in your e-newsletters, or e-magazines.
Click
here to download this poster.
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