Bullying in the Boardroom

Charmaine Hammond is a former corrections officer and mediator who speaks extensively on workplace violence. I spoke to her on Get It Together Radio to talk about the all-too-common phenomenon of ault bullying.

According the the Workplace Bullying Institute, fully 35% of American workers feel that they have been bullied at some point or another. Adult bullies are targeted for different reasons. While kids pick on other children who are different or weaker, adult bullies target people who do well in their positions, who are creative or who speak up for themselves.

Here are some things Charmaine suggested for dealing with bullies on the job.

1. Create a paper trail.
Get a notebook and record the date, time and details of each incident. Save emails and other documentation as well. If this were an episode of Law & Order, we'd be talking about 'preserving the evidence.'

2. Speak up.
First start by trying to speak to the bully directly. In several instances, especially if the person is naturally gruff and assertive, they may not even know how their behavior is being perceived. If speaking to the bully doesn't work, try speaking to the boss or Human Resources.

3. Help Out
If you see someone being bullied, offer your help. Don't let this co-worker suffer in silence. Dealing with bullies is essential to creating a positive workplace and even if you are not being targeted, you should work with others to create the kind of work environment where everyone can succeed.

My interview with Charmaine is available by clicking on the player to the right.

For more information about Charmaine, workplace violence, or even the memoir on her pet Toby, visit her online at www.charmainehammond.com.