BC Living
How to Support BC Wineries Now
Embark on Culinary Adventures: 5 Must-Try Solo Dining Experiences Around BC
You Gotta Try this in April 2024
4 Tips on Balancing a Nutritious Diet with a Side of Indulgence
Choosing Connection: A BC Family Day Pledge to Prioritize Presence Over Plans
Embracing Plant-Based Living this Veganuary and Beyond
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
B.C. Adventures: Our picks for May
Spring into Fun in Kamloops: The Best Events in the City
7 BC Retreats Where Solo Travellers Can Find Inner Peace and Wellness
BC Distilled
Melodies and Museums: Solo-Friendly Entertainment for the Independent Traveller
Arts Club Theatre Company Celebrates 60 Years
SOLO CHIC: 5 Essential Pieces for the Stylish Solo Traveller
8 Gadgets and Gear for Your Solo Adventures
A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Souvenir Hunting in BC
Learn the difference between strong management and bullying
Workplace bullying is a repeated pattern of negative behaviour. It can affect your mental and physical health, as well as threaten a healthy work environment. It’s important to know the difference between strong management and bullying. Comments and reviews intended to provide constructive employee feedback are not usually considered bullying. You are not being bullied if someone is merely expressing a difference of opinion, offering constructive criticism, guidance or advice about work-related behaviour.
However, it’s not acceptable to be continually treated with disrespect, leaving you hurt, embarrassed or angry. Bullying can involve hostility, rudeness, intimidation, spreading rumours and gossip, insults or put-downs, using offensive language, scolding, yelling, stalking, spying or tampering with personal belongings, and deliberately interfering with the “victim’s” work and career advancement.
If you are not sure if an action or statement is considered bullying, use the “reasonable person” test: Ask yourself if most people would consider the action/words acceptable.
If you are concerned about damage to your emotional health (or a co-worker’s), watch for the following changes since the abuse began:
What can you do? Document the abuse and keep any abusive notes or e-mails. If you are uncomfortable about confronting the abuser yourself, consider talking to your supervisor (if they aren’t the abuser) or human resources staff. Present your concerns in a professional, factual way. Resist the urge to speak badly of the abuser, or to retaliate. It can make you look like the bully.
If you witness workplace bullying, offer the victim your support and encourage them to take action. Go with them to meet the supervisor or help them confront the bully in a calm, mature manner.
Seek support by talking to friends, your partner, co-workers, a counsellor, your doctor, your minister, or an attorney. Being abused destroys your self-esteem. A strong support system helps maintain sanity, and makes you aware of your legal and ethical options for action.