Bullying is a common and dangerous problem in the workplace. In many countries around the world, bullying is an actionable claim. Although it is not per se illegal in the United States, it can and does lead to lawsuits (people like to sue bullies, and it rears its ugly head as retaliation and other actionable claims). Additionally, along with discomfort and team dysfunction, bullying in the workplace creates problems such as low morale, decreased productivity, stress, anxiety and depression experienced by impacted employees.
Much time and money is spent on legal claims that often originate from bullying behaviors. The company may suffer a loss of reputation. People don’t like working for bullies, with bullies or near bullies, and it is often cited as a reason why good employees leave the workplace. A bullying employee—whether a manager or merely a coworker—is simply not a good retention tool.
