Seriously Toxic (75-85)
According to your answers, you work in a seriously toxic work environment
For bullying victims
The first thing you need to know is that you are not alone, and you are not crazy. More than 19 percent of American workers are victims of workplace bullying, and 62 percent of new employees who leave their job within the first year, do so because of a hostile work environment that fails to protect them.
Bullies select their targets because they feel threatened by them – their skills, their likability, their moral compass and agreeable nature, so you did nothing to deserve being abused.
For bullying bystanders
You may be realizing for the first time that you have contributed to a toxic work environment, but you also are not alone. More than 61 percent of American workers are aware of abusive conduct in the workplace.
Acknowledgement is the first step in resolving the problem, so you’re already on the path to recovery. More than 60 million Americans report being impacted by workplace bullying, so while you may not be a direct target, you are likely feeling the effects.
More than 74 percent of bullies enlist cohorts to carry out their schemes. They work alone only a quarter of the time, so be aware of bullies attempting to get you to gang up on a co-worker.
You should also be aware that more than 54 percent of reports by victims are ignored by employers, so if you’re in a position to back up a victim’s story, do so. Report bullying to your employer and don’t stop reporting until the behavior stops.
You are the solution to workplace bullying.
For bullies
Now that you know there’s a name for your game, maybe you’ll realize you need help. One day very soon, everyone will understand your incessant need to degrade and demean your target. They will know that it’s not because you are superior – as you so desperately want everyone to believe. It’s because you have a gaping void in your soul, and the only thing that begins to fill it is causing pain in someone you secretly and obsessively admire.
For employers
A toxic work environment is a reflection of poor management, first and foremost. Nearly 70 percent of new employees who leave their jobs in the first year, do so because of poor management.
In 54 percent of cases reported to management, their employer does nothing while the bully methodically and purposefully creates a toxic work environment; in 90 percent of cases, the employer disbelieves the victim; and in 71 percent of cases, retaliates against the victim for reporting the abuse (leading to the victim’s termination more than a third of the time).
Here’s how it shakes out when victims turn to typical company policies for protection: Following the first guideline, to address the bully directly, leads to the bully making either no change, or ratcheting up the behavior in 93 percent of cases. Following the second guideline, to report to a superior, leads to disbelief of the victim in 90 percent of cases, discrediting the victim as a liar in more than half, and terminating the victim more than a third of the time.
What's the big deal?
Why can’t targets just find another job if they’re so unhappy?
Bullying targets often find themselves targeted again and again, because bullies are threatened by their competence, reputation, record and likability. They leave one hostile environment, only to be targeted by the same type of person with the same types of insecurities and personality deficits.
More than 30 percent of victims suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being disbelieved by employers 90 percent of the time, retaliated against, ostracized by co-workers, and are terminate in more than a third of cases.
In 82 percent of cases, bullies intentionally set out to harm their victims. Destroying the target is as vital to them as their daily job responsibilities. Remember, 74 percent of bullies have no problem enlisting cohorts to help them abuse.
How many times should they have to get over it?
Coming soon...
