June 7, 2016
Something every leader should know about workplace bullying – get involved!
On Thursday May 26th at the Calgary Central Library, Sandy Hershcovis, PhD, a professor in the Haskayne School of Business, spoke on the impact of bullying in the workplace. The talk was part of Idea Igniters, a joint initiative between the University of Calgary and the Calgary Public Library (http://calgarylibrary.ca/idea-igniters/) that aims to connect Calgarians to issues that matter.
Hershcovis engaged the audience with her own and other stories of the challenges to the individual and organization from bullying in the workplace. She talked about the difference between bullying - repeated patterns of negative behaviour intended to harm - and incivility - low intensity actions with ambiguous intent to harm.
Although incivility is much more common (over 90% of people experience it, as opposed to the 15% experiencing bullying) the effects of both in the workplace are remarkably similar, and they can both be costly to a business. The effects involve experiences of stress or anxiety, depression and hating their jobs. This can then spill over into family life relationships too. Victims often retaliate: they come in late, call in sick, take long breaks, spend time protecting themselves from the bully – all of which affects their focus on work.
By conducting real-life experiments, Hershcovis’ research explores the reactions witnesses experience when they see someone being mistreated. Her results show how even small gestures can have a big impact. Learning how to respond to bullying in the workplace can be life-changing.
If you are a witness to bullying (or incivility) what can you do? Hershcovis identifies two approaches: those leaders who have positions of power in the organization or in relation to the perpetrator can act directly. Working with the perpetrator and HR to help them understand that their actions are not acceptable in the culture of the organization, and creating accountability with them for their own actions. Those who are not power holders in the organization also have a role, this time to support the victim of the bullying. You can learn more about Dr. Hershcovis’ work here.
Lana Wells, PhD, the Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, also gave a motivating presentation at the event on the topic of ending domestic violence. You can learn about Dr. Wells’ work here.
This year Calgary Public Library continues its learning journey into its 104th year, and the University of Calgary’s 50th anniversary began this month and will continue with 50 events in 50 weeks. Visit ucalgary.ca/celebrate to learn more about our celebration.