12 Ways to Stop Bullying Happening in the Workplace as a Manager

Last Updated on July 29, 2023

As a manager, you will need to take the lead in preventing bullying in your workplace. The difficulty though, as you might have already experienced, is that dealing with bullying can be challenging and difficult to manage. Here are 12 tips to help you begin to deal with problems of bullying in your workplace.

What Is Bullying in the Workplace?

Bullying in the workplace can be defined as any form of unwanted, aggressive behavior that is directed towards an individual or group in the work environment creating a hostile and intimidating atmosphere.

It includes physical, verbal, psychological, social, and even cyberbullying.

Bullying can have serious long-term effects on both victims and perpetrators, such as increased stress levels, low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety.

Prevention is key to addressing workplace bullying, and employers should create a safe and respectful environment where employees feel valued and respected.

This could include:

• implementing an anti-bullying policy
• providing regular training to staff on the issue of bullying
• establishing clear reporting channels for victims to voice their concerns.

Prevention is key to ensuring that everyone at work feels secure and supported in their role.

1. Create a Clear Set of Policies and Procedures Around Bullying

Having a clear and comprehensive policy regarding workplace bullying is one of the most effective ways to stop it from happening.

Make sure that everyone in your organization understands:

• what kind of behavior is not tolerated
• and the consequences of any violations.

It is important to have a clear definition of bullying in order to ensure that all policies and procedures are consistent and effective.

The definition should include physical, verbal, and emotional forms of bullying as well as cyberbullying.

2. Provide Training and Education to Your Employees

By educating your employees and managers about the different forms of bullying, you can help them understand the importance of preventing it.

You can also offer anti-bullying training that will allow your employees to recognize when bullying is occurring and how to effectively address it.

If you work in HR (Human Resources) or own your own business, then it can be worthwhile ensuring that your managers have been trained in managing bullying and harassment in the workplace.

3. Promote Open Communication

Encourage employees to talk openly about their experiences in the workplace, as well as any issues or concerns they may have.

Allowing for open communication between colleagues can help create a more positive work environment where bullying is not tolerated and where it is less likely to occur.

As a manager, it is especially useful to understand:

• intercultural communication
• how to manage difficult conversations
• the impact of micro-aggressions

4. Foster an Inclusive Environment

Instilling inclusive workplace practices in your workplace is a great way to work towards reducing bullying.

The idea here is that by avoiding the alienation of certain employees because of their differences and bringing the team together more as one, bullying tends to be reduced.

It is essential that each and every employee feels respected and a part of the team, no matter their age, background, or beliefs.

In order to make the workplace more inclusive, make sure to include everyone in meetings and give everyone a fair opportunity to get training, be involved in team decisions, and to have the same opportunities as their colleagues.

5. Advocate for Respectful Behaviour

By consistently modeling respectful behavior yourself, you can set a strong example for how others should treat one another.

You should also be sure to intervene if you witness any disrespectful behavior, or hear about it from your employees.

6. Promote Positive Peer Relationships

Make sure that all of your team members are getting along with one another by promoting positive peer relationships.

Encourage them to get out of their comfort zones and interact with colleagues they don’t usually interact with, and create opportunities for team bonding activities.

7. Regularly Monitor Employee Interactions

Keep an eye on how your employees interact with each other, especially during times when tensions may be running high.

Make sure you’re checking in regularly with individual team members to ensure that they feel comfortable and supported in their workplace.

8. Offer Anonymous Reporting

While it can be difficult for employees to speak up about their experiences with bullying, providing an anonymous reporting system can help encourage more people to come forward and report any instances of bullying they are aware of.

9. Create an Anti-Bullying Team

Having a team or committee dedicated to preventing bullying in the workplace can help ensure that your employees are held accountable for their actions and provided with the resources they need to address any instances of bullying.

10. Don’t Tolerate Retaliation

Make sure you take any reports of bullying seriously and provide support for all those involved.

It’s important to make sure that employees who report instances of bullying are protected from any kind of retaliation.

11. Follow Up

It is important to follow up on any reports of bullying and to follow the process through until you are happy the situation has been resolved, one way or another.

Ask employees how they feel their experiences have been handled and if there is anything else that can be done to help them in the future.

12. Make Resources Available

Make sure resources are available to employees who may be dealing with bullying.

This could include a dedicated hotline, access to counselors or therapists, or other support services.

Bonus Idea: Hold Regular Meetings

Schedule regular meetings with employees to discuss issues around bullying, as well as ways to prevent it.

Keep the lines of communication open and let employees know that they can come forward if they ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe in their work environment.

With the right policies in place, as a manager, you can ensure that everyone feels protected from any type of bullying or harassment.

It’s important to be proactive when it comes to addressing bullying and take all necessary steps to keep employees safe and respected.