CHAPTER 38 Workplace Bullying: How to Deal with Intimidation or Harassment at Work Use a Cease & Desist letter to neutralize workplace bullies Workplace bullying has become a hot-button topic within the media over the past few years, with statistics suggesting that up to 35% of workforce employees have fallen victim to this alarming trend. Some suggest that bullying victims are simply people who “can’t take the pressure” at work. Not so, says Jeff Shane, Vice President of Allison & Taylor Reference Checking , a firm that offers Cease & Desist letters to stop workplace bullying. “Bullying has become an unpleasant fact of life in too many workplace environments. What makes it especially insidious is that it often continues even after someone has left a job, with the bully continuing to make their life difficult by them a poor reference to a prospective employer.” Workplace bullying tactics can range from derogatory comments to public humiliation or physical abuse; in any event, they unquestionably lead to decreased workplace productivity. Victims may experience a loss of confidence, debilitating anxiety, panic attacks, clinical depression and even physical illnesses. Central to the issue is the fact that management or supervisors are the most common offenders, and their bullying actions leave the recipient in a difficult employment position. Since many bullies are operating in accordance with a company’s “standard practices,” victims often speculate that they may deserve the criticisms, or they are simply too embarrassed, reluctant or fearful to confront the harasser. If you are the victim and you’re unwilling or unable to effect a change in the workplace, leaving the position and looking for a more positive environment may be your best choice. However, be certain that your former employer’s negative feedback does not hinder your efforts to find a more suitable work environment. “A large number of the references we check are in response to workplace bullying,” says Shane. “People feel traumatized and helpless in the face of mistreatment. They’re also worried that the negative feedback they’re receiving in their current job will carry over into a negative reference, and disrupt their ability to secure future employment.” Fortunately, there is recourse available for such grim scenarios. Allison & Taylor Reference Checking provides a service whereby an employee can find out exactly what someone is saying about them to a prospective new employer. If a workplace bully is speaking out of turn when responding to an employment inquiry, employees can exercise the option of a Cease & Desist letter or pursue more substantive legal action. Such tools will help ensure that the transgressor will stop their actions out of fear of corporate reprisal. “The dilemma of workplace bullying is often made worse by the feeling that nothing can be done to alleviate it,” says Shane, “but that’s not true. A person can, and should, take steps to improve or protect their employment situation.” To find out more about workplace bullying and the steps you can take to prevent or eliminate it, please visit Allison & Taylor Reference Checking . CHAPTER 39 Job Seekers Mistakenly Believe Their Former Employer Can’t Bad-Mouth Them “Never Assume” - Your Job References You’re filling out a job application when you come to the question “May we contact your former supervisor?” While you didn’t “part company” with them on particularly good terms, your understanding is that all they should be allowed
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