Workplace Bullying Behaviors - Assignment Example

The top management and executives should be responsible and ensure that bully-free workplaces are created and sustained; however, the only utter way to stop workplace bullies is for employees and employers to work together to establish and enforce appropriate workplace policies and practices.

Typically, in most situations workplace bullying is known to harm the health of the targets of bullying; additionally, it is linked to a host of physical, psychological, organizational and social costs. Unfortunately, stress is also among the core health effects associated with bullying in the workplace; and from past experiences workplace stress has significant negative effects that lead to poor mental health and largely poor physical health that results in an increase in time off from work (Weidmer 2010). Unfortunately, the negative effects of bullying are so severe that they can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder or even the victim committing suicide which is a great negative impact in all levels of that particular workplace.

By and large, workplace bullying has an impact on the organization just as much as it has on the victim; for instance, co-workers who witness workplace bullying operate under fear, stress and emotional exhaustion and some may even opt to leave the place of work. Bullying can also act as a barrier to organizational dynamics such as group cohesion, peer communication and overall performance; moreover, organizations suffer a large financial cost by not accurately managing conflict and bullying-type behaviours.

Employers need to be more attentive in managing various dissenting behaviours and characters in the workplace, such as bullying, as it not only creates a financial cost to the organization but also affects in a great way the organization’s assets in the human resource area (Baack 2012). However, one can not entirely rely on their employer to counter the workplace bullying issues that they are experiencing so they should stand up for themselves. Standing up for oneself entails not being an easy target; if one shrinks away and allows the behaviour to continue without consequence the bullying will continue. Generally, the trick is to always remain polite and professional while setting your limits firmly and not dwelling so much on those that are interested in bullying; however, it is also essential to always be alert and prepared to avoid irrational and emotional responses (Gary 2014).