Harassment in the workplace is spreading like a malignant virus. It amazes me that more than 50% of all employees are harassed in the workplace.

Bullies in the workplace come in all shapes and sizes and include men and women. In this sense, it is also men and women who are being intimidated or harassed in the workplace.

The effects of being a victim of such actions are varied, some experience depression to the point of having to see a therapist. The victim may over time lose self-confidence and develop a loss of self-esteem.

Harassment in the workplace is now considered a hostile work environment. And while this is against the law, most victims will not take legal action.

Many times, bullies in the workplace will attempt to demean by constantly ridiculing the victim’s work and work habits. For both men and women, being bullied in the workplace should not be taken lightly.

Below is a list of things that could be considered in the workplace:

• Attacking the character of the person by spreading unpleasant rumors or gossip that are not true.

• Exclude the victim from the group, in order to keep her isolated.

• Intimidate a person.

• Deliberately undermining or impeding a person’s work.

• Being physically abusive.

• Remove areas of responsibilities given for no reason.

• Changing work structure and guidelines in the blink of an eye.

• Impose deadlines that cannot be met for the purpose of causing failure.

• Not providing the necessary information or giving the wrong information that will cause the person to fail.

• Intrude on a person’s privacy by harassing, spying, or stalking.

It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that the company has a strong anti-harassment and hostile workplace policy.

If your company manual does not include these policies, then you are not creating a safe work environment for your employees.

If your management team is not enforcing the good policies that you have written in your employee handbook, then you are not creating a healthy work environment for your employees.

In addition to establishing a strong anti-bullying policy, it’s good to send your management team to seminars that will help everyone better understand what bullying is in the workplace and how it can be identified.

This type of harassment is simply bad for the company, it destroys the morale of a company and destroys the drive and desire of employees to succeed and excel.

Any employer that is not proactive in this area is damaging the reputation and profits of the company, not to mention contributing to a crime.

These last words are strong, but a human life is very precious and needs to be preserved, not degraded.