Key Points
- Abusive and undisciplined bosses can set a trend of workplace bullying and harassment.
- Certain colleagues may pick up these abusive traits and create a toxic workplace.
- Erica Xu and Xu Huang of Hong Kong Baptist University School of Business raise voice the potential of the threat.
Abusive and toxic bosses often characterize the working environment of an organization. Due to personal enmities and other reasons, colleagues too may supplement this behavior. Erica Xu and Xu Huang of Hong Kong Baptist University School of Business brought this statement and behavioral pattern to attention.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of mental health. Hence, this brought about various mental health evaluation and support programs in workplaces. Hybrid work models, company transparency, and mental health days can stand out as some such mental health strategies. However, toxic workplaces maintain hostile work environments.
Toxic workplaces generate dysfunction, conflict, and harassment that generates trauma and stress in employees. Furthermore, these toxic workplaces exist throughout the world. According to CNA, in 2021, a former WWF Singapore employee was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after reported bullying by her former boss. The former employee also stated that her boss criticized her performance and made her think she did things the wrong way.
Bullying propagates from the very top of an organization. Therefore, the struggle for power that occurs between employers and employees can often lead to hostile and degrading workplaces. Most third parties remain silent about the injustice for fear of losing their jobs. However, this condition might not be as clear-cut as one might think.
Certain colleagues pile on to the workplace toxicity. Instead of feeling bad for coworkers, some of them join the bullying for “evil pleasure.” Humans tend to be social beings. We also need love and acceptance from our family, friends, and coworkers. Before creating a hostile environment for a co-worker, please consider how similar behavior would affect you. What would you do in their shoes?
Reference,
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/toxic-workplace-bully-boss-colleague-abusive-help-2788416
