Workplace harassment or mobbing is unfortunately a reality and affects a high percentage of workers in this country. It is a negative behavior that occurs in the workplace between coworkers, superiors, or subordinates. This type of behavior negatively affects the emotional health of the victim, even endangering their safety.
In the following article we will talk in more detail about workplace harassment and what to do about it.
What factors will influence workplace harassment
One contributing factor is interpersonal conflict among coworkers. Another is a negative work environment or excessive workload. In these situations, the ideal approach is to discuss things calmly and calmly, avoiding the dreaded harassment. However, some employees resort to mobbing (bullying) to resolve certain workplace conflicts.
How to detect a situation of workplace harassment
Sometimes it's really difficult to recognize workplace harassment because it often manifests in a subtle way, without much violence. Pay attention to these signs that can help you identify workplace harassment:
Relationships between distant workers
Workplace harassment can occur when the boss or the majority of the workers completely ignore another worker.
Work overload
Workplace abuse occurs when an employee is assigned more tasks than they can realistically handle. This can leave them feeling overwhelmed and negatively impact them emotionally.
Threats
Threats can be verbal or non-verbal and may be accompanied by sexual propositions.
Lack of security measures
The boss forces a worker to perform a series of tasks without providing the mandatory and necessary safety measures.
All these signs end up causing a series of emotional consequences for the harassed worker:
- It is not comfortable in the workplace.
- It has the feeling of being isolated and apart of the other workers.
- He feels that the treatment received differs that of the other workers.
- Perceive changes without any meaning in the orders you receive.
What are the consequences of workplace harassment
The physical and emotional consequences suffered by the harassing employee are truly devastating. It's common for them to experience panic attacks, sleep problems, digestive issues, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating.
In the workplace, this ultimately affects their performance, as they are unable to do their job as they would like. From a mental health perspective, the harm suffered by the harassed employee is significant. It is common to experience anxiety and depression, along with feelings of low self-esteem, insecurity, and helplessness.
Besides that, the physical consequences are also serious, such as vomiting, muscle pain, tremors, or difficulty falling asleep.
What to do about workplace harassment
If workplace harassment is real, there is a protocol that all companies must follow. A committee is formed, and interviews are conducted with various employees. If the harassed employee has suffered significant health problems, they can file a complaint , and the company itself may be held liable for failing to act appropriately.
In cases of workplace harassment, it is important for the harassed employee to report the situation. The fear of losing one's job must be overcome , and the situation must be reported. Sometimes, employees do not report harassment because they receive threats and coercion from their employers.
Psychological treatment
In many cases of workplace harassment, the employee will need the help of a professional, such as a psychologist, to manage their emotions and prevent significant emotional damage. Workplace harassment often leads to the following consequences:
- States of depression and anxiety largely caused by a significant loss of self-esteem and confidence.
- Social isolation.
- Irritability and sudden changes in behavior.
- post-traumatic stress and afraid.
- Concentration problems and memory loss.
- Possible addictions to harmful substances like alcohol or drugs.
Therefore, psychological therapy is essential in such cases. The goal of this therapy is to help the harassed worker regain confidence and self-esteem, and overcome the feelings of fear and guilt caused by mobbing or workplace harassment.