A survey by a market research group has found that about half of American workers – 77 million people – are affected by workplace bullying.
The survey by Radius Global Market Research found that 60 percent of American workers report having witnessed a coworker being bullied.
Radius Vice President Jill Gress notes that toxic work environments can severely impact employee productivity and job satisfaction.
Here are some additional survey results:
- Despite the proliferation of digital channels, such as email, texting and social media, 81 percent of respondents said they experienced or witnessed bullying in person;
- The most common form of mistreatment is being ridiculed or reprimanded in front of other staff (29 percent), followed by being harassed based on looks or body type (23 percent), work attire (23 percent), pressured to take on a specific task (23 percent) or coerced to work extra hours (22 percent).
- Nearly 60 percent of respondents said bullying was most often committed by coworkers, followed by a manager (39 percent) or company executive (23 percent). One in five experienced bullying from a subordinate.
- Most targets of bullying confront the offender or discuss the issue with an HR representative but nearly one in four take no action.
- Of workers who specifically experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace, 44 percent reported the problem remains unresolved.
- One in three workers admitted to behaving in ways that are considered bullying, while not intentionally meaning to be hurtful or insensitive.
Radius, a global market research company based in New York City, says its “Bullying in the Workplace” survey was conducted online within the United States from September 21 – October 9, 2017 among 1,025 adults aged 18+. The sample is representative of the U.S. adult population.
Due to management theory and practice where pushy, aggressive people are promoted and rewarded because they are seen as “getting results” then little wonder why we have so many bosses in charge who are successful with numbers, but really shouldn’t be in charge of people. Until American business sees a company as a whole, where everyone is viewed as valuable contributors to its success, not just the person in charge — there will always be an excess of horrible bosses. That thought won’t change until business ceases to be viewed as a cutthroat competition where profit rules and aggressiveness is desired, and becomes a view that business is simply producing goods and services to make life better for everyone. The feudal attitude that continues to run our lives does not view the serfs as people of equal value as the overlord. Stopping bullying has to start at the top.
I agree with Wendy.