Bullying a Global Problem

The Workplace

Bullying in the workplace is one of the fastest-growing causes for complaints involving workplace violence. In fact, some countries report that it is more common than racial discrimination or sexual harassment. Each year, about 1 person in 5 in the U.S. work force faces bullying.

In Britain a report released in 2000 by the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology said that out of 5,300 employees in 70 organizations 47 percent reported that they had witnessed incidents of bullying in the last five  years. A 1996 European Union survey based on 15,800 interviews in its 15 member states showed that 8 percent-some 12 million workers-had been subjected to intimidation or bullying. 

Whether in the school yard or workplace, all bullying seems to have a common trait-the use of power to hurt or humiliate another. Why, though, do some people bully others?  What are the effects? And what can be done about it? 

Next time: BULLYING  Some Causes and Effects

From the Awake! magazine, 2003