Effects of bullying
It is a common experience that workers who are systematically harassed feel degraded, inadequate, and deeply distressed. Many feel too ashamed and embarrassed to talk about what is happening in their workplace. This is especially true for men, who find it very difficult to admit that they are being harassed, especially if they work in a “macho” environment. This fear of losing face for reporting harassment is even more pronounced when a man is being harassed by a woman.
For many, bullying is something that happens to a few unfortunate children in school and has no place in the adult world. It can be very difficult to understand what is happening, to realize that it is not the behavior or attitude of the worker himself that is to blame. It is very common for the victim of this type of prolonged harassment to suffer from doubts and wonder what they are doing to deserve this treatment. Constant, petty criticism and missed deadlines corrodes self-esteem, perhaps eroding years of positive reviews and grateful managers, removing layers of experience and competence, exposing our vulnerabilities. This is particularly the case when a worker is selected by a boss to be victimized and isolates himself from his co-workers, who are too scared to side with the victim.
Harassment often begins when management selects a worker for whom it no longer has any use and wants to force them to resign. The job will be scrutinized and supervised, as the manager has been ordered to find “legitimate” reasons for the dismissal. Desperate pressure is put on a person in this situation not to make mistakes. It becomes a nightmare battle that the worker has no chance of winning unless the support of a union is sought.
The effects of bullying on a worker can be devastating. Feelings can include fear, helplessness, helplessness, anger, hatred, rage, and the desire for revenge. Workers can be so afraid of going to work that they can vomit and feel physically ill before leaving for work each morning. In many cases, a person’s self-esteem, among colleagues and co-workers, and livelihoods are threatened by constant harassment and intimidation. This is particularly the case when a worker feels trapped and loses all hope of finding more employment due to age or lack of skills and training. When our basic survival needs are threatened, we generally experience feelings of terror. When our self-respect is systematically destroyed and we feel powerless to do anything to stop it, suicidal thoughts often enter the mind of the victim. Actual suicides have occurred as a result of workplace bullying.
Effects of sexual harassment
Sexual harassment infringes on the basic dignity of the individual and can have a devastating effect on the health, competence, morale and self-esteem of those affected. Workers who experience sexual harassment often feel helpless, scared, degraded, angry, humiliated, and isolated. Many feel that they will be blamed for causing the unwanted behavior if they report the abuse, so they remain silent. Others are afraid of being demoted, suffering further victimization or dismissal if they speak out. Feelings of anxiety and stress, loss of confidence, and episodes of illness are common experiences for those who experience sexual harassment. A person’s social life and personal relationships can also be negatively affected.
Victims often report that they feel “dirty,” “degraded,” and “used,” especially if the harassment was physical in nature. Those who are forced to give sexual favors, out of fear of losing their jobs, often feel angry, guilty, and violated. Often times, the victim is forced to leave the job without having obtained another position, which can cause financial difficulties in the short and long term. When the harassment is particularly cruel or prolonged, including sexual assault and rape, the victim may experience episodes of severe depression and suicidal thoughts.
Although the majority of victims of sexual harassment are women, men can also become the targets of sexual jokes and unwanted physical contact. Men have also reported being groped and teased by their male and female colleagues at work. It can be particularly difficult for a male victim of bullying to come forward and seek support, due to the fear of appearing “weak” or “not very macho” to his co-workers.
Effects of violence
Bullying can involve physical violence that is perpetrated against a worker, such as pushing, punching, kicking or slapping, by a colleague or superior. Emotionally, victims of violent bullying often feel deeply shocked, angry, scared, and out of control. Workers have been intimidated by employers with threats of physical violence against themselves and their families, if they dare to involve a union or bring a case against the company. This type of intimidation is criminal and the effects on those affected are long-lasting, highly damaging and deeply traumatic.
Members of the public can also inflict violence on workers. The physical effects of violence can range from cuts and bruises to broken bones and life-threatening injuries, which can leave the victim scarred or disabled. Serious assaults, including death, have become a real fear for many types of workers in the performance of their duties. The occupations most vulnerable to attack are those that enforce the law (e.g., Gardaí, army, guards, social workers), those that handle money (e.g., security workers, cashiers, bus drivers, dependents) and those who work in the caring professions (for example, nurses). Working in areas where there is a likelihood of violence can lead to low staff morale and high levels of stress. (Guidance on preventing violence at work: 1995).
The psychological effects of violence on employees include anxiety, helplessness, irritability, pain, hyperactivity, sadness, depression, and shock. This type of reaction is known as post-traumatic stress disorder and can include constant thoughts about the incident, muscle tension, fatigue, increased consumption of alcohol, nicotine and food as a means of coping (Poster and Ryan: 1993).
The Health and Safety Authority has reported injuries to workers that required surgery that led to long-term disability. A major psychological effect of violence is the loss of self-confidence. Unless properly treated, it can develop into behavior problems, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. (Violence at work).
Effects of stress
According to the Health and Safety Authority, workers who endure excessively stressful conditions often experience anxiety and fatigue. They are more prone to making mistakes and having accidents. They are more likely to indulge in smoking, drinking, eating, or using drugs excessively. High levels of stress over a long period of time have been shown to contribute to heart disease, reduced resistance to infection, digestive problems, and skin problems. Striving to meet impossible deadlines or to complete excessive amounts of work often leaves workers feeling anxious, inadequate, frustrated, depressed, and out of control (Workplace Stress: Cause, Effects, and Control).
Resume
In summary, the following psychological effects have been reported by workers who have experienced sexual harassment, intimidation, violence, and stress in the workplace:
Physical problems that manifest themselves, such as aches and pains, migraine headaches, back pain, ulcers, skin disorders, stomach problems, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, which may require periods of sick leave.
Difficulty to sleep
Obsessive thoughts about work
Emotional exhaustion
Uncontrollable sobbing episodes
Palpitations, panic attacks, and mood swings.
Feeling inadequate, powerless, and out of control
Loss of sex drive, sometimes leading to impotence.
Emotional withdrawal from family, friends, and colleagues.
Feeling unmotivated, lethargic, and listless
Increased dependence on drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol.
Feeling anxious, fearful, and irritable.
Lack of confidence and self-esteem.
Feeling shocked and bewildered, humiliated and degraded
Fear of making mistakes, which leads to a decrease in job performance.
Feeling depressed, accompanied by suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, or actual suicide.
Feeling alienated, frozen, and isolated
Feeling anger and hatred towards the stalker.
Daydreaming of revenge and revenge
Unfair dismissal
Constructive dismissal due to the severity of the harassment
· Leaving employment before another job has been secured.