Bullying—Not Just for Seventh Graders Anymore

Last week, news was released regarding bullying-specifically in the health care arena. The Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing reviewed the psychological and social issues related to bullying in the workplace, and strategies for creating a respectful work environment.

The Joint Commission determined that over half of nurses had been bullied at work, and over 90 percent had witnessed it in some fashion (via physicians or peers). As I dug deeper, more studies appeared, including one detailed in a Science Daily article that points out that while sexual harassment offenses can be criminalized, belittling comments, gossiping and incivility of course cannot. Sad really, as bullying--now far more common, but often subtle--in its various forms can lead serious health problems including depression, anxiety, insomnia or worse for the victim.

I once experienced bulling in seventh grade--the boyfriend gone bad variety--that surfaced as chair kicking and hair pulling. By the third day, I told my mom I didn't want to go to school. I had to go. A decade plus years later, I experienced the wrath of an abusive, bullying manager. Each day, I wanted to stay home; I couldn't then, either. A friend of mine who works as a medical assistant at an ob/gyn practice recently vented to me about a verbally abusive colleague. This woman's antics greatly impacted my friend's self-esteem, performance and job outlook. Perhaps a topic for another post altogether, but I've also heard what I'd consider horrific tales from medical residents regarding inappropriate--not to mention illegal--treatment at their hospitals. From harsh, abusive comments to extreme successive hours "on the floor," they too suffer intense emotional distress courtesy workplace "bullying."

Bullying behaviors do indeed occur in many workplace environments--health care is clearly no exception. A negative, abusive employee may disillusion the entire crew, putting the success of your operations in harms way. Management must be aware of this unfortunate trend, and remain enough involved in the employee relations side of the job to be attuned to "bad apples." How do you smoke out your workplace bullies? What's the appropriate response to transform bad behaviors to foster a supportive, positive work environment?

With the many duties of a manager or administrator, it's hard to stay on top of everything--and everyone. But the presence of bullying--even subtle traces of abuse--will cost you.