Workplace Bullying
NAESP Houston
“
“When A Bad Apple Sours the School”
Dr. Kathleen Sciarappa
April 10, 2010
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Today’s Session:
Adults, not students
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Essential Questions
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What is the prevalence of workplace bullying?
Who are the bullies and targets?
What is the impact on:
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targets
onlookers
workplace
supervisors
bullies
If it’s not illegal, what can be done?
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Fact or Fantasy?
Introductions
To what degree has bullying
impacted
your school’s culture?
Rating Scale
0 (not at all)
10 (highest possible impact)
(low) 0...1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8...9…10 (high)
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Who, Does What, to Whom?
Match % with “direction” of bullying
72%
bottom up
10%
boss-employee
18%
peer-peer
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Who, Does What, to Whom?
72% Boss
18% Peers
10% Subordinate to superior
Are you a bully?
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Partner Work
Superior, subordinate, colleague:
Discuss your situation
“Only the best are bullied.”
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Finding the Words
 Workplace terror
 Harassment
 Mobbing
 Workplace mistreatment
 Emotional abuse
 Workplace aggression
 Incivility
 Hostile behavior
 Workplace trauma
 Healthy workplace
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How Prevalent?
In your corners, please!
What % of adults have been bullied
at work or witnessed it?
A) 17%
B) 92%
C) 49%
D) 3%
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Hard to Spot
• The International Labor Organization
• Spousal abuse
• Sexual harassment
Challelle & DiMartina, 2006; Davenport, et al. 1999
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Workplace Bullying
Dr. Gary Namie
Dr. Ruth Namie
The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) website
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Looks like? Sound like?
 gossip /rumors
 isolating socially
 intimidating
 undermining
 threatening
 withholding information
 offensive jokes verbally/email
 intruding on privacy
 tampering with personal possessions
 belittling opinions
 ostracism
Davenport et al., 1999; Leymann, 1990; Namie & Namie, 2000; Williams, 2008
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Who and Why?
The grown up schoolyard bullies/mean girls
Family of origin issues
Psychological issues
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Bullying Styles
Model for us!
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Targets and Mobbing
Jackson et al. 2002; Hutchison et al, 2006
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“Healthy Workplace"
David Yamada
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There ought to be a law…
European countries…yes
Canada…yes
Australia…yes
United States…no
3/22/10
Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont,
Oklahoma, Kansas, Utah, Connecticut (plus 5 = 16 states)
March 18 Illinois Healthy Workplace Bill Passed the Senate (35/17)
Sioux City Iowa: First school district
“Bullies thrive wherever authority is weak.”
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Civil Rights of 1964
gender
sexual orientation
race
color
nationality
ancestry
ethnic origin
religion
 physical disability
handicapping conditions
medical conditions
physical appearance
marital status
veteran status
education
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Lack of Response
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Underreporting;
Unaware;
Without policies, regulations and laws;
Misapply conflict resolution strategies;
Employers themselves are bullied;
The bully appears to be a high performer;
Targets lack reporting strategies.
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Costs
• Health
• Psychological
• Economic
• Talent flight
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th
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International Workplace Bullying
Conference
Montreal, Canada 2008; Cardiff, Wales 2010
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What Doesn’t Work?
Appeasing the bully
Blaming both parties
Labeling the target as a complainer
Listening to an orchestrated group
Ignoring
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What Works?
Name the most effective strategies…
Discussions with colleagues
Addressing incidences
Sharing articles/information
Writing an opinion piece
Contacting your representatives
Creating or endorsing legislation/district policy
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More What Works
Name it and document it!
Expose the bully (s)
Check physical and mental health.
Raise awareness of workplace bullying .
Respond to reports
Resource: The Eight Tactics for Explaining Workplace Abuse to Decision Makers
(Tracy, Alberts, Rivera 2007)
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Short term…Long term
Partner Work
What can be done immediately?
What long term measures are needed?
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Our Plans
Now
Long term
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Enduring Understandings
• Workplace bullying is common, destructive, and
misunderstood.
• Bullying has negative consequences for all parties
except the bully.
• The U.S. is not keeping pace with legal sanctions.
• Workplace policies and legislation are needed.
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Reflections
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Go Home and Take Action
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Evaluation!
Thanks for coming.
Enjoy the conference!
Kathleen
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