How to Deal with Office Bullies

Bullying doesn’t end in high school. It continues on forever. Thankfully, there are but a few bullies in the world. However, we still see and encounter them in banking jobs, finance jobs, to even the highest positions in the company. How do you handle the situation if you are at the bullying end? Here are some useful tips:

Keep track of all the bullying cases.
If you notice that the bullying happens more than once, you need to document everything. List the time and date of when the bullying occurred, and what exactly did Mr. Bully do to you. If there are any eyewitnesses, also jot down their names. Also keep all evidences, such as correspondences.

Confront your workmate.
Don’t come running to your boss just yet. First let the bully know how you feel about the things that he do. Inform him about how you are being negatively affected by the things that he say or do to you. Maybe he does not know that his actions are actually offensive, and you might even be the very person to help him improve.

If the bullying continues, then that is the time when you can talk with your supervisor, mentioning that you had already tried to talk with your workmate.

File a complaint.
You should not bypass your immediate supervisor when filing a complaint. First talk with him and see what you can do at your level. If he thinks that you should escalate the bullying case, then that is the only time when you can talk with senior management.

Explain the situation well. Get your message across, that you want to continue performing well at work, but you are hindered by the behavior of your colleague.

If, on the other hand, the one bullying you is your supervisor, first talk to an HR representative so that you can get advice on how to approach the situation. Make sure that you have all the records and documents intact, in case the situation leads to a legal case.

Consult a lawyer.
If your company fails to deal with the situation, then you need to seek legal action. First talk with a lawyer and ask about the proceedings that can be done, most especially if you belong to a protected class. Taking the case to court means that you are serious about bullying and that you will not tolerate it. It will help your co-worker be aware of the reality of his actions, and will also prevent further damage on his other colleagues who might be victims of his bullying schemes too.