Workplace Abuse: Breaking the Silence by Combating Abuse!

A healthy workplace is a great contributor to work productivity, job satisfaction, and the mental well-being of employees. It is also an important factor in determining the success of employees. But a healthy workplace with zero abusive conduct is flawed thinking. Workplace abuse is widely observed and reported. This has detrimental consequences on employees that negatively influence work performance.

This article will focus on workplace abuse definition and will shed light on it by quoting some workplace abuse examples. By the end of this article, you will be able to identify signs of workplace abuse, types of workplace abuse, and impacts of workplace abuse. Also, we will educate you about the ways to report workplace abuse along with the workplace abuse legality.

Key Takeaways

• Workplace abuse is prevalent and includes various forms of harmful behaviors.
• Abuse can be verbal, non-verbal, physical, psychological, emotional, financial, or cyber-related.
• Signs of workplace abuse include power disparity, frequent and repetitive aggression, gratuitous sabotage, and demeaning behavior.
• Legal protections against workplace abuse exist and vary by region.
• The impacts of workplace abuse are significant, affecting both employees and organizations.
• Reporting mechanisms and preventative measures are essential in combating workplace abuse.

Workplace Abuse Definition

Workplace abuse is defined as an unjustifiable and repetitive behavior of an employer against an employee or a team of employees. The actions are targeted to make the work environment hostile with a behavior that is often degrading, intimidating, and belittling to individuals. It can be both verbal abuse and non-verbal abuse. A comprehensive workplace abuse definition as given by Syntrio is given below:

“Conduct of an employer or employee in the workplace, with malice, that a reasonable person would find hostile, offensive, and unrelated to an employer’s legitimate business interests. Abusive conduct may include repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets, verbal or physical conduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or humiliating. Or the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of a person’s work performance. A single act shall not constitute abusive conduct unless especially severe and egregious.”

Quoting Facts

CareerBuilder conducted a survey in 2011, and according to the results, 35% of employees have experienced bullying in the workplace. It also indicated that almost half of those targeted by bullies choose not to confront them, and most incidents remain unreported. Lastly, another important finding says that the most frequent form of workplace bullying involves being unfairly blamed for mistakes, followed by being ignored and subjected to double standards.

Workplace Abuse Examples

Workplace abuse dehumanizes the workforce creating a toxic workplace culture that is against human rights and robs employees of their dignity. Workplace abuse examples can include job sabotage, gossip full of lies and rumors, intimidation, exclusion, demeaning behaviors, and threats. One of the causes of workplace abuse is the reinforcement of power structures by toxic managers. To make this happen, they might take help from false narratives.

For instance, Lack of response from higher-ups in case an employee has reported any workplace abuse. Instead of taking any action, the company vilifies the employee to escape liability. Another workplace abuse example is being a threat to the power-hungry boss if the employee is a high performer. Not only the boss but also the colleagues become jealous and try to pull the employee down to sustain their selves in the workplace. They will use abusive tactics to devalue him. These workplace abuses push him into a state of utter confusion where he can’t decide whether he should continue working in a toxic workplace culture or leave and become unemployed.

Workplace Abuse Legality

The state of California amended its original bill to add the concept of “abusive conduct” in its anti-sexual harassment. The employers who have hired more than fifty people are obliged to aware the staff aware of sexual harassment prevention in a two-hour interactive and effective training, according to this notion.

Likewise, Section 509 of Pakistan Penal Code 1860 states that “If a person demands sexual favors and uses a verbal or non-verbal form of communication, causing any kind of annoyance, the person is liable to a punishment of three years or fine or both.”

Verbal abuse, particularly, can be dealt with Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) which is a tort that becomes applicable when the action of one person causes severe emotional distress to the other person either intentionally or recklessly. The conducts subjected to punishment under this tort include intentional, outrageous, reckless, and extreme or cause emotional or physical injury.

Signs of Workplace Abuse

A few signs of workplace abuse are discussed next:

1. Power Disparity

Workplace abuse is most common in hierarchical structures where mostly the higher-ups are involved in abusing their power. These power dynamics exacerbate the situation where the aggressor has an influential position and more authority than the target impacting his mental state badly.

2. Frequent and Tenacious

Workplace abuse is not a one-time event but is often recorded to be tenacious and repetitive. These degrading events of aggression keep on repeating thereby destabilizing the psychological health and self-esteem of the target.

3. Gratuitous Sabotage

Another common sign of workplace abuse is targeting the skills and abilities of the target. The aggressor usually undermines the professional growth, work, and reputation of the employee to intimidate him. He also wants to create a toxic work environment where the employee feels isolated and belittled.

4. Excruciating and Patronizing

Another sign of workplace abuse is mocking, offending, or demeaning the target by using abusive language. The aim is to lower their self-confidence and hurt their self-worth.

Types of Workplace Abuse

There are many types of workplace abuse based on the target that is mistreated. A few of these are given below:

1. Verbal Abuse:

When the aggressor uses words to harm a person then it is defined as verbal abuse. It can include shouting, slurring, intimidation, name-calling, offensive language, harassment, insulting, etc. Usually, the aggressor speaks from the position of authority. It can lead to many mental health problems like psychological distress, PTSD, depression, anxiety, stress, or even physical health issues including high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, etc.

2. Non-Verbal Abuse

Non-verbal abuse in the workplace refers to harmful actions and behaviors that do not involve direct verbal communication but still convey hostility, disrespect, or intimidation. These behaviors can significantly affect an employee’s mental and emotional well-being, creating a toxic and fruitless work environment. Non-verbal abuse can manifest through body language, exclusion, neglect, and other subtle yet damaging actions.

There are many other sub-types of workplace abuse too which fall broadly under the above-mentioned categories:

• Psychological Abuse (Can be both verbal and non-verbal)
• Emotional Abuse (Can be both verbal and non-verbal)
• Physical Abuse (Generally considered non-verbal)
• Sexual Abuse (Can be both verbal and non-verbal)
• Financial Abuse (Can involve both verbal and non-verbal actions)
• Cyber Abuse (Can be both verbal and non-verbal)
• Neglect or Negligence (Generally considered non-verbal)
• Intimidation and Threats (Can be both verbal and non-verbal)
• Exploitation and Overwork (Can involve both verbal and non-verbal actions)

Impacts of Workplace Abuse

The impacts of workplace abuse can be far-reaching for the employees as well as the company resulting in worse outcomes. Some of these are discussed next:

1. Less Job Satisfaction

Recurrent abusive conduct at the workplace decreases the sense of satisfaction and enthusiasm to perform better. This lack of appreciation often impacts work productivity by lowering the morale of employees.

2. Increased Emotional Distress

Employees who are subjected to abusive conduct at the workplace often face an increased level of emotional distress. These victims often go through high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. If the intimidating and humiliating behavior does not stop, it can cause a worsening of mental health.

3. More Employee Turnover

Not only employees, but the companies are also negatively impacted by workplace abuse. When employees are severely burdened by workplace abuse, they might seek alternative opportunities leading to an increase in employee turnover. When more employees will leave the team it will certainly decrease their morale and interrupt team tasks.

4. Higher Legal Vulnerabilities

We have already discussed the workplace abuse legalities, so the abusive conduct will not be spared. It can increase the possibilities of legal liabilities for companies due to allegations by employees. This will not only rupture the economic state but will also damage the reputation. When the present employees resign from the office there the potential employees might feel hesitant to join because of the negative status.

5. Recurrent Physical Health Issues

The most common impact of workplace abuse is physical health problems. The recurrent mental health disorders coming in the form of abusive conduct at the workplace often manifest in physical disorders. For instance, compromised immune system function, sleep disturbances, headaches, etc.

Where to Report Workplace Abuse?

To protect and report workplace abuse, read this article.

Conclusion

Workplace abuse is a critical issue that significantly impacts employees’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being, as well as their job satisfaction and productivity. It encompasses a range of harmful behaviors, including verbal, non-verbal, and physical abuse, often perpetuated by those in positions of power. Recognizing the signs of workplace abuse and understanding its consequences is essential for creating a healthier work environment. Organizations must implement robust policies, provide training, and establish effective reporting mechanisms to prevent and address abuse. Protecting employees from abuse not only ensures their well-being but also enhances organizational performance and reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workplace Abuse

1. What is workplace abuse and how is it defined?

Workplace abuse involves repeated and unjustifiable behaviors by an employer or colleagues aimed at creating a hostile work environment. These actions can be verbal, non-verbal, physical, psychological, or emotional, intending to intimidate, belittle, or harm the victim.

2. What are some examples of non-verbal workplace abuse?

Non-verbal abuse includes ignoring or excluding employees, purposeful neglect, hostile body language, creating an unwelcoming environment, intimidating gestures, and over-monitoring.

3. What are the common signs of workplace abuse?

Signs include power disparity, frequent and repetitive abuse, gratuitous sabotage of work, and demeaning or patronizing behavior. These behaviors aim to lower the victim’s self-esteem and hinder their professional growth.

4. How prevalent is workplace bullying?

According to a 2012 CareerBuilder survey, 35% of employees have experienced bullying at work, with many incidents going unreported as nearly half of the victims choose not to confront their bullies.

5. What legal protections exist against workplace abuse?

Various laws exist to protect employees from abuse. For instance, California mandates training on preventing abusive conduct for employers with over fifty employees. In Pakistan, the Penal Code addresses sexual harassment and abuse with potential penalties of imprisonment and fines.

6. How can employees report workplace abuse?

Employees should document instances of abuse, report them to HR or a trusted manager, and if necessary, seek legal advice to ensure their concerns are addressed appropriately and without retaliation.

7. What impacts does workplace abuse have on employees and organizations?

Workplace abuse can lead to decreased job satisfaction, increased emotional distress, higher employee turnover, legal vulnerabilities for the company, and recurrent physical health issues among employees.

8. What steps can organizations take to prevent workplace abuse?

Organizations can implement clear anti-abuse policies, provide regular training on recognizing and preventing abuse, establish confidential reporting mechanisms, and foster a supportive work environment where all employees feel safe and respected.

9. Can workplace abuse lead to legal action against employers?

Yes, employers can face legal action if they fail to address workplace abuse, potentially resulting in lawsuits, financial penalties, and reputational damage. Legal frameworks like Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED) and specific workplace laws provide avenues for employees to seek redress.

10. How does workplace abuse differ from harassment and bullying?

Workplace abuse is a broader term encompassing various harmful behaviors, while harassment often refers to unwelcome behavior based on protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender). Bullying typically involves repeated, targeted aggression intended to intimidate or harm.