We have all heard about bullying on the playground but bullying in business? Sounds silly doesn't it? A situation recently occurred and it was handled but I realized when I woke up this morning that in fact I had been bullied. Surely I can't be the only one that this has happened to and what better way to bring attention to this than a blog post. For those of us who have products, we are at the mercy of those placing our products. Maybe it's a shop owner who is placing your items in a store and you feel like you are at their mercy. I'm pretty sure there are many other scenarios out there and I welcome you to blow off steam here. What can we do in these situations? If you look up bullying in the workplace you will find lots of information! Who knew that it carries into adulthood. Here are some suggestions by SHARP of how to handle the situation.
Take action by:
• Keeping a diary detailing the nature of the bullying (e.g., dates, times, places, what was said or done and who was present). And
•Obtaining copies of harassing / bullying paper trails; hold onto copies of documents that contradict the bully’s accusations against you (e.g., time sheets, audit reports, etc.).
Other actions:
•Expect the bully to deny and perhaps misconstrue your accusations; have a witness with you during any meetings with the bully; report the behavior to an appropriate person.
Do these suggestions apply for those of us working online? They don't seem applicable. What do you think?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Bullying in Business?
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6 comments:
I think working in the cyber world is a whole different animal and those rules don't really apply. Maybe sharing how you handled your situation will help others?
I recently worked someplace where I was bullied. I have since left, but it can be a painful and tortuous experience.
I don't know much about online businesses, but I can tell you that cyberbullying is a huge issue among young people.
See http://wiredsafety.org
Well, you know MY issue I was having...I called my lawyer and we had a LONG discussion about how vague internet laws are...it is really really hard being an online retailer! I have had retailers remove my labels so now I iron them on as well as SEW them on! There is little that you can do to keep tabs on everyone...all you can do is be sure you do all you can to protect yourself!
It is sad that there are so many business owners without ethics!!
Good points and keeping a diary is a good idea.
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