I’ve Seen the Bully and the Damage Done

From Jim: This is the second in a series of seventeen blog posts on workplace bullying and related topics running Monday, July 2, 2012 to Sunday, August 12, 2012.  Events and people depicted are fictionalized composites from multiple sources.  Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental.  

A pastor is periodically ambushed by an elder in his congregation.  The elder catches pastor alone and off-guard.  He accuses him of merely collecting a paycheck and waiting to retire.  He doesn't care if the church grows.  He doesn't know how to disciple anyone.  He can't get along with staff.  He’s a poor listener.  He's the worst political manipulator the elder has ever seen.  He forged an email from their district superintendent.  The church is loving and has potential but the pastor is standing in the way.  He should get out of the ministry. The list never ends.  The pastor is near the end of his rope.

One in four workers has experienced mistreatment in the workplace.  Costs are high, emotionally to the worker, and financially to the organization.  In churches, the spiritual stakes are impossible to measure and rarely considered – and they’re sanctified after the abuse, as the ends justifies the means, in Jesus’ name. 

In the middle of it, as with any assault, few targets of bullying realize what’s happening, and they lack the knowledge and skills to respond effectively. They neither grasp the root issues nor have the tools to fight back. No wonder bullies get away with it. 

Workplace bullying and harassment cost money in lost productivity, absenteeism, employee attrition and human rights claims. In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a world-renowned and proud institution driven by integrity, honesty, professionalism, compassion, respect, and accountability.  But recent high-profile claims against the RCMP from current and former employees who allege bullying and harassment demonstrate that these claims can damage an organization’s reputation and brand. In the church, non-believing onlookers shake their heads, confirmed in their rejection of organized religion. 

So what do we mean by workplace bullying?  One definition, provided by the Workplace Bullying Institute, defines workplace bullying as repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the target) by one or more perpetrators and that takes one or more of the following forms:

• Verbal abuse
• Offensive conduct/behaviors (including nonverbal) which are threatening, humiliating, or intimidating
• Work interference — sabotage — which prevents work from getting done

Dr. Catherine Burr defines workplace bullying as

• Behaviour:  acts or verbal comments, that are
• Hostile, unreasonable, and
• Often – but not always – repeated, that
• Hurt or isolate a person and
• Create a harmful work environment

Bullying includes characteristics or patterns of behaviour that are

• Unreasonable. They
• Intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate (they impact the target’s dignity, reputation or integrity), are
• Aggressive; and so are a pronounced demonstration of power that include
• Risk or harmful effects – to the organization, to the individual, and often his family. 

If you’ve been bullied you need to know two things:

1. You’re not alone. 
2. It’s not your fault. 

Next time:  Games bullies play: How to recognize it. What to look for.