Dealing with Bullying in the Workplace

Bullying can happen in any type of workplace but, sadly, it’s not uncommon in the healthcare industry.

Last month, we have featured the story of a Filipino nurse who was bullied twice. Read this article.

For nurses, in particular, bullying or unfavourable treatment can be difficult to cope with. Whether the perpetrator is a fellow nurse, doctor or consultant, it can be hard to know how to resolve the situation.

To find out what you can do, take a look at these three top tips for dealing with bullying in the workplace:

1. Keep Detailed Notes

Even when you have a clear memory of incidents, it can be difficult to prove what’s happened based solely on an oral account. By keeping detailed notes, you can refer back to them at a later date, if it’s necessary to do so. As well as noting down exactly what’s happened, be sure to reference the time and date too. If further action needs to be taken, the information you’ve recorded could be crucial to proving your argument.

2. Seek Legal Advice

Nursing employees, like the majority of employees, are protected from bullying under the law, which means your rights are being infringed if you’re treated unfavourably. Seeking advice from an employment law consultant will help you to establish what your rights are and what action you might want to take. If you’ve suffered financially because of bullying in the workplace, for example, you could be able to instigate legal action against your employers. Being overlooked for a promotion or feeling forced to resign can have a significant impact on your career, which is why taking legal action can be an effective way to deal with bullying in the workplace.

3. Protect Your Well-Being

Any type of bullying can have an impact on your well-being, so don’t hesitate to seek help. Often, people find that their self-confidence is eroded when they face on-going abuse in the workplace, so it’s important to recognise the impact that the situation has on your mental and emotional health. When you can confide in an independent and impartial third-party, you’ll have the opportunity to talk freely about the situation and be able to access the support you need.

Recognising Workplace Bullying

When you’re working in a fast-paced, high-stress environment, like a hospital or medical clinic, the signs of bullying aren’t always easy to spot. Similarly, a high turnover of staff can mean that isolated incidents of bullying are ignored, rather than addressed and resolved.

However, it’s important to recognise the signs of workplace bullying and take appropriate action. This ensures that you’re not being treated unfavourably but it also helps to prevent other people from being treated in the same way.

If you feel that you’re being singled out for criticism unfairly, treated unfavourably based on your gender, race or sexual orientation, or you’re being treated differently to your co-workers, it’s vital to seek advice and take appropriate action.

Everyone has the right to be treated fairly at work and resolving disputes or bullying swiftly can transform your professional life and ensure that your career remains on track.