Bullying is sometimes not out in the open, but it occurs much more than we think. Managers and Supervisors should keep their eyes and ears open to make sure employees are treating each other with respect. Bullying can take place for many reasons and in many cases can be prejudice or racist. Some of these reasons can include appearance, sexual orientation, sexual preference, political views, religious beliefs, or race. One good way to monitor how your employees are being treated is to simply talk with them. Let them know when they are hired to speak up or inform a supervisor if they or someone else in the office is being bullied. Bullying can be an action of just one employee or a group of employees.
You would think that bullying ends when we leave High School, but it continues on for many folks into their careers and adult lives. If you see someone who has been vulnerable to bullying or verbal abuse, acknowledge them in a positive way. Maybe sit with them at lunch one day, or start a casual discussion with them on their break. You’ll never know what a few minutes of positivity could be doing for this person who is currently being mistreated.
The best way to prevent workplace bullying is to constantly enforce respect and kindness within the office. We all work very hard and dedicate our current lives to our careers. Everyone deserves the same courtesy as you would expect to receive yourself and we should consistently remind our employees and co-workers of this.