9 smart ways to fight terror at work

9 smart ways to fight terror at work

Here's how to tell if you are being browbeaten at work, and nine smart ways to fight it

So you thought that bullying stops at school? Perhaps, not. Bullying at work is, apparently, serious business. It is very common, and hazardous. A recent article in the UK's National Health Service states, "Bullying can make working life miserable. You lose all faith in yourself, you can feel ill and depressed, and find it hard to motivate yourself to work".

Do you feel nauseous the night before the start of a new work weak? Does it become painfully tiresome to drag yourself out of the bed on a Monday morning? Do you dread the sight of office and facing that plethora of files? Chances are that your work means misery to you, and that's not good news. And the reason could be a workplace bully. Here are signs that will help you understand if you are in fact, a victim of bullying.

Constant screaming 
This is the first trait and stands true for all workplace bullies. They make their feelings explicit mostly by shouting. If you are frequently screamed at, insulted or humiliated in front of your colleagues, you're probably your bully's victim.

Reminding errors
To err is human. Right. But the terror castle of a bully doesn't seem to think so. If your senior colleague is maintaining a journal of your errors and perpetually referring to them for no reason at all, you have fallen prey to their terror. Likewise, they always tend to wrongly accuse of mistakes that you haven't made. Be careful there.

Perpetual disapproval 
When it comes to meeting targets, experts say, bullies have a different set of standards. So, if the pointed criticism from your big boss or colleague has become a constant, despite being thoroughly competent at your job and even exceeding expectation, know the reason isn't you.

Sorry, not invited
If you feel like you're being singled out by your colleagues or boss, socially or physically, you are probably being bullied. That can mean having your desk moved or not being invited to lunch meetings.

Need a break
If it seems like all your time off is being used for recreational breaks to get away from the desolation of your office, it could be because you're being bullied. Other signs include spending your days feeling listless, demotivated and bored.

Disruption rules
A workplace bully may try to find ways to ensure that you fail at your job. Examples include changing rules randomly or not performing tasks important to your success, such as signing off documents or taking calls when they should be answering them.

Being impossible 
If your boss always schedules lastminute meetings on days when he/ she knows you're leaving early, he/ she is a bully. Remember, a workplace bully won't hesitate to change your schedule to make your life difficult.

No credit
You've slogged your butt off for weeks and months on a project, but when the time comes to share the credit, either he takes it or won't give it. Either way, it won't make you feel too great about the effort you've put in your job.

Rumour has it
So there is the apparent bully, but beneath all those criticisms or personal remarks, there's the greater good for work at heart. However, what you need to be really wary of are the covert office bullies. He/she is the vicious one and is likely to spread destructive gossip and lies about you and your performance, rather than scream at you in front of your co-workers. Failing to stop the spread of a rumour can be an act of bullying, as well.

Help yourself 
- Find yourself a work companion. Don't be ashamed to tell them what's going on
- Speak to an employee representative, someone considerate in the company's human resources department, about how you could deal with the problem informally
- If the bullying is affecting your health, consult your family physician
- Bullying reflects the bully's own weaknesses, and is meant to intimidate you. Stay calm, and don't bother to argue with them. It's a pointless battle
- Only if you can, talk to the person in question as they may not realise how their behaviour has affected you
- Maintain a diary. It will prove useful when you decide to take action at a later stag
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