Bully-Proof Your Workplace

Press Release from ExpertClick.com

Ruth Sirman, Mediator and Workplace Conflict Expert, will be appearing on Rogers Daytime Ottawa on Monday August 9, 2010 at 11:10 am to discuss some of the factors that contribute to workplace bullying and the negative impacts created by the distraction.

In some cases a behaviour that is perceived to be inappropriate and bullying is nothing more than one person being oblivious to the impact they are unintentionally having on someone else. In other situations the bullying behaviour has become a habitual and in some cases, vicious power play that creates an ongoing toxic atmosphere in the workplace.

“As mediators who specialize in working with large complex conflicts in dysfunctional situations, we recognize the challenges in trying to sort out what is personal perception, what is rhetoric, what is rumour and what is the actual reality of what happens on a day to day operational basis. Individual’s intent and other’s reactions are a big part of what leads to the problem,” Sirman explains.

While positive workplace relationships and atmosphere are what we all hope for, they are not guaranteed as part of a person’s employment. How someone experiences their working environment is influenced by their personal perceptions of what’s acceptable and what’s not and their tolerance levels for others. These along with many other factors contribute to the individual’s productivity, willingness to contribute and their level of comfort in the workplace.

Career implications, stress, frustration, fear of repercussions and uncertainty about how the organization will deal with the situation can create high levels of distraction and bring productivity to a halt. Anti-harassment policies and legislation such as the new Ontario Bill 168 are designed to provide a framework to deal with workplace bullying, violence and harassment and are becoming more prevalent as ways to help employees deal with conflict.