Workplace bullying isn’t just “bad behavior” or “office politics gone too far”—it’s a wrecking ball. It destroys an employee’s mental health, job satisfaction, and productivity, yet many managers still underestimate how common—and devastating—it really is. Unlike the obvious playground stuff we remember from school, workplace bullying often hides in plain sight. It’s subtle, manipulative, and insidious. And while it’s easy to shrug and say, “They’re adults, they can handle it,” the truth is a lot darker.
Research shows that the fallout from workplace bullying isn’t just hurt feelings. Victims often suffer lasting psychological and physical damage: feelings of inferiority (Einarsen, 2000), higher rates of depression and burnout (Lever, Dyball, Greenberg, & Stevelink, 2019), and major drops in job satisfaction, performance, and engagement (Devonish, 2013; Glasø & Notelaers, 2012). Many also turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, from substance abuse (Vartia, 2001) to behaviors that lead to serious health conditions like heart disease (Kivimäki, Virtanen, Elovainio, Vahtera, & Keltikangas-Järvinen, 2003). In the most extreme cases, bullying has even been linked to suicide (Routley & Ozanne-Smith, 2012).
If you want a workplace that’s safe, supportive, and productive, ignoring bullying isn’t an option. You need to know what it looks like, how to spot the early warning signs, and—most importantly—how to shut it down before it destroys your culture from the inside out.
Types of Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying can take many forms, and it’s not always as obvious as a boss yelling at an employee or a coworker spreading nasty rumors. Here are some common types of workplace bullying:
Verbal Abuse: This includes yelling, insults, sarcasm, and harsh criticism. Verbal abuse can be direct (shouting), or indirect (making demeaning comments disguised as jokes).
Example: A manager consistently belittles an employee’s work in front of others, making them feel incompetent and humiliated.
Social Isolation: Bullies may exclude the target from meetings, conversations, or social events, making them feel ostracized and unwelcome in the workplace.
Example: A team member is consistently left out of after-work gatherings, leading them to feel alienated from their colleagues.
Manipulation and Sabotage: This involves deliberately setting someone up to fail, withholding important information, or undermining their work in other ways.
Example: A coworker intentionally withholds crucial project details, causing the target to miss a deadline or submit incomplete work.
Micromanagement and Overbearing Supervision: While not all micromanagement is bullying, it becomes so when it’s excessive and intended to undermine the employee’s confidence and autonomy.
Example: A supervisor constantly nitpicks details and makes an employee redo tasks unnecessarily.
Cyberbullying: In today’s digital world, bullying can also take place online. This might include sending harassing emails, spreading rumors through social media, or excluding someone from group chats.
Example: A coworker uses a company messaging app to send passive-aggressive messages or makes derogatory comments about an employee in a group chat where they aren’t included.
Recognizing the Signs of Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying can be subtle, and employees may be reluctant to speak up about it. However, there are some key signs to watch for:
Increased anxiety or stress. The target of bullying may exhibit signs of stress, such as nervousness, insomnia, or irritability.
Avoidance behavior. The employee may start avoiding certain coworkers, meetings, or work-related social events.
Decreased productivity. A sudden drop in work performance can be a sign that an employee is being bullied.
Low morale and engagement. The target may seem disengaged, uninterested, or lacking in motivation.
Physical symptoms. Headaches, stomach issues, or other stress-related health problems can be physical manifestations of the impact of bullying.
How to Deal with Workplace Bullying
Dealing with workplace bullying requires a proactive approach. If you’re being bullied, here’s how to handle it:
Document the bullying. Keep a detailed record of the bullying incidents, including emails, messages, dates, times, locations, and any witnesses. This documentation will be crucial when you report the behavior to HR or management.
Tip: Include specific examples of the behavior, how it made you feel, and any impact it had on your work.
Speak up. If you feel safe doing so, consider addressing the bully directly. Sometimes, bullies aren’t aware of the impact of their behavior and may change when confronted. However, if you’re uncomfortable with this, or if the bullying is severe, skip this step.
Tip: Use “I” statements to express how the behavior affects you, such as, “I feel disrespected when my work is criticized in front of others.”
Report the bully to HR or management. If the bullying continues or escalates, report the behavior to HR or your manager. Use the documentation you’ve gathered to support your case, along with witness statements. If your company has specific policies for reporting workplace issues, follow them.
Tip: If possible, bring a colleague or union representative with you for support when reporting the incident.
Seek emotional support. Don’t hesitate to seek support from colleagues, friends, or mental health professionals. Dealing with workplace bullying can be emotionally draining, and it’s important to have a support system.
Tip: Many large companies offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide counseling services and other resources.
Escalate the issue if HR or management do not respond effectively. If the bullying is not addressed by your company or if you feel that your complaints are not taken seriously, you may need to consider legal action. Workplace bullying can sometimes fall under harassment or discrimination, which is illegal.
Tip: Consult with an employment lawyer to explore your options and understand your rights.
How Managers Can Create a Bully-Free Workplace
If you don’t have an anti-bullying policy in place, get started right now. Delaying could expose your organization to serious legal risks, irreparable damage to your reputation, and most importantly, the inevitable loss of good employees.
Here’s what to do:
Establish clear policies. Ensure that your company has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, and communicate this policy to all employees, including what bullying consists of, and the consequences.
Train and educate. Regularly train employees and management on recognizing and preventing workplace bullying.
Encourage open communication. Create an environment where employees feel safe reporting bullying without fear of retaliation.
Lead by example. Model respectful behavior and hold everyone accountable, regardless of their position in the company or how well they perform. A bully who brings in a lot of profits for the company is still a bully.
References
Devonish, D. (2013). Workplace bullying, employee performance and behaviors: The mediating role of psychological well-being. Employee Relations, 35(6), 630–647. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-01-2013-0004
Einarsen, S. (2000). Harassment and bullying at work: A review of the Scandinavian approach. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 5(4), 379–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-1789(98)00043-3
Glasø, L., & Notelaers, G. (2012). Workplace bullying, job satisfaction, and job productivity: Moderating effects of personality traits. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 27(5), 395–411. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941211235452
Kivimäki, M., Virtanen, M., Elovainio, M., Vahtera, J., & Keltikangas-Järvinen, L. (2003). Workplace bullying and the risk of cardiovascular disease and depression. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60(10), 779–783. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.60.10.779
Lever, I., Dyball, D., Greenberg, N., & Stevelink, S. A. M. (2019). Health consequences of bullying in the workplace: A systematic review. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 34(4), 229–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2019.1688379
Routley, V., & Ozanne-Smith, J. (2012). Work-related suicide in Victoria, Australia: A broad perspective. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 19(2), 131–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2011.635210
Vartia, M. (2001). Consequences of workplace bullying with respect to the well-being of its targets and the observers of bullying. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 27(1), 63–69. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40967206
Bullying often hides behind charm, confidence, or “strong personalities.” The WINT-R3 (Work Integrity Test) helps uncover traits like manipulativeness, maliciousness, and disrespect for rules—before they poison your culture.