Mobbing is a type of violence systematically exercised on a worker in his or her work environment. For some time now, mobbing has been a recurring theme in debates and has even had an impact on both labor and criminal legislation in some countries.
There have been cases so serious that it has even been considered a cause of death. In the event that a person suffers harassment at work, the following must be taken into account:
- The person is not the problem
- It can happen to anyone
- The situation must change radically
Recognize the harassment at work
The person who has never been bullied at work will not recognize it easily. Harassment starts gradually, little by little and in an inconspicuous way. The person who suffers it does not realize the situation he/she is going through, and by the time it becomes clearer, he/she is already weakened.
The following guidelines define harassment in the workplace.
Harming the employee’s competence as a worker
The worker may be deprived of work or prevented from accessing necessary resources and then accused of passivity, or tied up in order to harass or discredit him later.
Non-competencies may be performed in order to humiliate.
Damaging communication and personal reputation
Communication with co-workers may be impeded, as well as separating the person from them and even badmouthing the person. Malicious jokes are frequent, spreading rumors and slander that can cross company boundaries.
Damaging the integrity of health
In extreme cases, a deterioration in the physical environment is suffered, preventing the person from taking the necessary safety measures to carry out an activity, and the person may receive verbal, gestural or written threats and intimidation. Sexual harassment is also frequent.
Six measures to take into account against harassment at work
- Become aware of harassment
- Change your life
- Speak up about the harassment in your immediate environment
- Seek professional help
- Gather information about the bullying
- Take legal action
Numerous studies show that more women suffer harassment than men. In fact, data from the Fundación Madrina indicates that more than 30% of women suffer mobbing during pregnancy and up to 50% after pregnancy, especially after maternity leave.
For more information on mobbing, consult a specialist in Psychiatry.