Bullied At Work? Right here’s How To Stand Your Floor

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors August 18, 2025

The one technique to root out darkness is to make clear the state of affairs

Reader’s Query:

Pricey Fairygodmentor,I’m experiencing bullying from a colleague, and it’s making me dread going to work. How do I deal with this case professionally?– Standing My Floor

Pricey Standing My Floor,

I’m sorry you're experiencing this at work. It’s exhausting sufficient to concentrate on exhibiting up every single day, giving your all, and simply plain surviving. Then so as to add this bullying to the combo?! It’s simply an excessive amount of!

Sadly, in line with the newest Office Institute Bullying survey, it’s estimated that 52.2 million American employees are being bullied, up from 48.6 million Individuals in 2021.

Office bullying appears to be like like repetitive mistreatment that’s verbal, non-verbal, bodily, or psychological. What’s extra upsetting is that 65% of bullies are individuals in management positions. That makes the office surroundings much more tenuous.

I need to share some methods for dealing with this matter promptly and professionally.

Doc, Doc, Doc: I normally give this recommendation to managers when they're interacting with their staff members. Our recollections aren’t as sharp 24 hours after an incident happens. You also needs to doc incidents and interactions which will violate security, the legislation, or firm insurance policies. Be particular. Who? What Why? When? How? Have been there any witnesses? What was mentioned (as precisely as you may recall)? What was the physique language you noticed? Having all of this information documented does quite a lot of issues. It captures what you skilled, it offers the group with an account of your expertise, and from a private standpoint, it validates that this wasn’t all in your head. If the bullying is occurring just about, take screenshots of chats and or textual content messages. Hold these receipts.

Confront (provided that you're feeling secure doing so): Typically, a bully continues this conduct in the event that they consider they will get away with it. For those who really feel secure talking up and saying one thing to this bully, confront them within the second of the bullying conduct. “Did you imply to say that?” If this conduct is predicated on allegations that you just’re not pulling your weight or delivering outcomes, present your receipts. The act of standing your floor and talking up can nip future bullying conduct within the bud.

Present Your Ask & Degree Up: If the bullying continues after talking up, stage up and get assist. Bubble up this incident to your Human Assets and/or Compliance division. Some corporations have compliance hotlines the place you may go away a voicemail outlining what’s been occurring within the office. Keep in mind to make use of the documentation you captured, together with the specifics of the incidents. Firms need their staff to be secure and productive. For those who’re experiencing bullying and harassing therapy at work, the enterprise must know. I do know it might really feel scary, however there are legal guidelines to guard you from retaliation.

The one technique to root out darkness is to make clear the state of affairs. By documenting, talking up, and getting assist, you may stand in your energy and actually stand your floor.

You’ve received this!

Yours actually,

Your Fairygodmentor®

About Joyel Crawford:

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" data-id="968677" src="https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/02/CONTRIBUTOR-IMAGE-FAIRYGODMENTOR-1024x576.jpg" alt="Joyel Crawford, fairygodmentor, contributor" class="wp-image-968677" srcset="https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/02/CONTRIBUTOR-IMAGE-FAIRYGODMENTOR-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/02/CONTRIBUTOR-IMAGE-FAIRYGODMENTOR-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/02/CONTRIBUTOR-IMAGE-FAIRYGODMENTOR-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/02/CONTRIBUTOR-IMAGE-FAIRYGODMENTOR-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2024/02/CONTRIBUTOR-IMAGE-FAIRYGODMENTOR.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> (Picture: Kirten White Pictures/BE)

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning profession and management growth skilled and founding father of Crawford Management Methods, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders via teaching, coaching, and facilitation. She’s the best-selling creator of Present Your Ask: Utilizing Your Voice to Advocate for Your self and Your Profession.

Have a query for Your Fairygodmentor®?

Submit your profession and management questions, whether or not it’s about navigating a micromanager, setting boundaries, negotiating for a increase, or dealing with burnout. Ask Your Fairygodmentor® right this moment!