Workplace bullying is on the rise; in 2017, 19% of working adults in the United States reported being bullied at work; only four years later, in 2021, that number hit 30%! Remote workers report an even higher rate of bullying at 43%. Employees report that 65% of the bullying was from a supervisor compared to 21% from co-workers. Workplace bullying has numerous consequences, including stressors within the workplace, impacting the bullied employee’s mental health, reducing workplace morale, and financial losses for the organization [1].
Identifying an Abusive Work Environment
Workplace bullying is repeated health-harming mistreatment by one or more employees of an employee. Bullying and abusive behaviors include verbal abuse, threatening violent behavior, intimidating or humiliating behaviors, work sabotage, or some combination of the above.
Workplace bullying involves repeated intentional acts of aggression, hostility, social isolation, or disrespect.
Can a Hostile Work Environment Cause PTSD?
Workplace bullying, particularly mobbing, has been linked to post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). PTSD occurs when one’s ability to cope becomes overwhelmed due to a traumatic event. C-PTSD occurs due to the inability to cope with exposure to long-term trauma that is recurrent or multiple traumatic events.
PTSD from workplace bullying symptoms include:
- Intrusive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, re-experiencing the traumatic event(s)
- Avoidance of people, places, and things at work that are reminders of trauma
- Feelings of fear, shame, and guilt
- Isolation from coworkers or feelings of mistrust
- Irritability
- Hypervigilance
- Difficulties concentrating on your work
The Long-Term Effects of Workplace Bullying
Victims of bullying in the workplace can experience long-term physical health issues and mental health problems, including:
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Sleeping problems
- High blood pressure
- Headaches
- Anxiety & Depression
- Burnout
- Reactivity (including hypervigilance & anger)
- Intrusive flashbacks
- Low self-esteem
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
The Economic Impact of Workplace Bullying
The effects of workplace bullying go beyond employees’ physical and mental health; there is also a financial impact on the organization. This can come in the following manners:
- Loss of productivity – employees working in abusive situations will not perform well.Increase healthcare costs – employees experiencing physical and mental health issues from bullying will require medical attention.
- Absenteeism – employees experiencing bullying are more likely to call in sick or take extra time off to avoid abusive work situations.
- High turnover rate – people are not going to stay in a toxic work environment
- Potential legal costs – bullying in the workplace may lead to harassment lawsuits or workers’ compensation claims.
How to Recover from Workplace Bullying PTSD
Many people cannot just quit their jobs; with that being said, taking steps to polish your resume and finding a better work environment may be the healthiest steps to take. If leaving the toxic workplace is not possible, the following steps help manage work-related stress.
Depending on the organization, human resources may or may not be helpful in addressing workplace bullying.
Documentation of the bullying should include the date, time, location, who was involved, and who witnessed it. Human resources may require this information and will be needed should the person seek legal advice or file a harassment lawsuit or worker’s compensation claim.
Practice coping skills at work and self-care at home. Grounding techniques help manage stress and include breathwork, savoring a favorite food or drink, or listening to calming nature sounds (anything that engages the senses).
Targets of bullying should seek professional help to address their physical and mental health needs. When seeking psychological treatment, the therapist should be versed in trauma therapy and care.
