Workplace Bullying
December 8th, 2013 | Published in Writing
Dominating characters commonly referred to as bullies, have been around since I can remember, yet in my naivety I thought (and hoped) I’d left them behind in the school ground. But alas, I was wrong, and the longer I have been part of the workforce, the more I realise that the adult version of self-glorification is alive and well, screaming for attention to be taken seriously. Perhaps it’s time to redefine the parameters within our workplace culture and question accountability (or lack thereof?); the hierarchical management model (what level-playing field?); victim-blaming (could that be “projection”?); and tackle abusive yet commonplace (even socially accepted?) behaviour. So herewith a few lines from my book The Other Side of the Ledger where a one-directional “abuser” lurks in the background.
P28 - The inevitable buzz and hum of the day rises as the “team” arrives and says their good mornings. It’s Virginia’s turn today to warn them that their leader is in one of those moods and that it’s going to be one of those days. One of those days where everyone feels as though they’re walking on eggshells; waiting for inevitable cracks and slippery yolks to coagulate and congeal like an ugly shadow; an ugly shadow that casts doubt in the individual, creates disharmony in the team, and undermines the corporate structure …
