Chapter 319

BULLYING AT CAL POLY POMONA

June 30, 2015

Stop the Abusive Behavior

NOW

Stand Up and Speak Out

Statistics According to the Workplace Bullying Institute (2014)

56% of bullies are managers 33% of bullies are peers 11% of bullies are subordinates Bullies

31% are female69% are male

Targets of Bullies 60% are female40% are male

Targets of male bullies57% female43% male

Targets of female bullies68% are female32% male

What is Abusive Behavior?

Persistent, offensive, abusive, intimidating or insulting behavior, abuse of power, or unfair punishment which upsets, threatens and/or humiliates the recipient(s), undermining their self-confidence, reputation and ability to perform 

 

The definition of a BullyAccording to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the definition of a bully is:

A blustering browbeating person; especially, one habitually cruel to others who are weaker: to frighten, hurt, or threaten: to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force

What are some of the effects of bullying in the workplace?

Bullying destroys teams causing Disenchantment Demoralization Demotivation

Low productivityAlienation Increases staff:

• Turnover• Sickness• Absences

The three phases of Bullying

Isolation

Control

Elimination

Bully’s Isolate Targets by:

Constantly nit-pick, finding fault in everything and criticizing in a trivial way

Criticizing based on distortion, misrepresentation and/or fabrication

Refusing to recognize the target(s) existence and value

• Constantly undermining the target(s) and his or her position, status, value and potential

• Excluding and separating target(s) from colleagues

• Marginalizing, overruling, ignoring, sidelining

• Denying information or knowledge necessary for the achievement of objectives

Starving the target(s) of resources, while giving others more than what they need

Denying managerial support

Excessively monitoring and micromanaging

Encouraging written complaints by other staff members against the target(s)

Denying leave and vacation requests

Bully’s Control a Target by:Singling them out and treating them

differentlyBelittling, demeaning and patronizing,

especially in front of othersHumiliating and threatening in front of othersOverloading with work, having all work taken

away or giving menial tasksStealing and plagiarizing the target’s work

Increasing responsibility and/or decreasing or removing authority

Denying training that is necessary to perform duties

Setting unrealistic goals and constantly changing goals without notice

Changing deadlines with little or no notice, causing failure

Subjecting target to gossip which damages his or her reputation

Bully’s Eliminate a Target by:

Twisting, distorting and misrepresenting the target’s work performance

Giving discipline for trivial or fabricated reasons

Coercing into leaving, constructive dismissal, early retirement

Who is behind workplace bullying?

Most workplace bullying is traceable to a person with several of the following traits:

Charismatic Obsessed with image Passive aggressive Self-Righteous, pompous and overly confident Appears self-assured Ambitious, argumentative and judgmental May give off an impression of trustworthiness

and reliability Has an air of untouchability: questioning this

person's actions or decisions is taboo especially among peers and superiors.

Deceptive Compulsive liar: spontaneously makes

things up to fit the needs of the moment Routinely embellishes stories for effect Convinces superiors and peers by

seeming plausible and convincing, sometimes by copying others' behavior, words or work

Portrays him or herself as kind, caring and compassionate but only behaves this way when it leads to personal gain

Doesn't listen, can't sustain a meaningful conversation

Superficial and glibSeems to have an overbearing, distorted

belief in his or her qualities and importance within the organization

Is oblivious to the difference between how he or she would like to be seen, and how he or she is seen

Manipulative Wants to control everything Has a subjective sense of right and wrong

"Right" is whatever he or she can get away with "Wrong" could be anything done by others, justifying

the bully's punishments, threats, control etc. Projects his or her own shortcomings onto

others Distorts peoples' perceptions of reality through

falsehood and gossip

• Rewrites history to paint a better picture of him or herself and/or a worse picture of someone else

• Tells different people different things, causing confusion, disruption, division and conflict

• Warns targets that nobody will believe them if they report the bullying

Is selectively (un)friendly and (un)cooperative: Is mean and inappropriately inflexible with

some people; but is generous, relaxed and very accommodating with others

May motivate allies with the prospect of reward; but motivates most people with fear and guilt

Directly or indirectly threatens dire consequences for people under his or her influence, who think or act for themselves

Once called to account: Aggressively denies and refutes any criticism Counter-attacking the critic with fabricated or

distorted counter-criticism Claims to have been bullied by the complainant,

feigns victimhood, ("poor me"), uses amateur dramatics (bursting into tears etc.), to avoid the question and evade accountability

Makes others feel guilty for daring to suggest that he or she might have done the slightest thing wrong

Jekyll & Hyde

Can be innocent and charming some of the time (typically in the presence of witnesses), but vicious and vindictive at other times (typically when there are no witnesses)

Ruthless and Unpleasant

Lacks a conscience, shows no remorseHas a compulsive need to criticizeIs often devious, manipulative, spiteful,

vengefulBecomes impatient, irritable and aggressive

if asked to address the needs and concerns of others

May be emotionally cold, humorless, joyless

Why do people become targets?

Bullying can start simply because the target is there

Bullying may be unwittingly provoked because the target is competent, popular, successful, has integrity or otherwise characteristics that the bully perceives as a threat to their own status, fearing that the target will - inadvertently or deliberately - expose some negative aspect of the bully’s activity

What can bullying do to your health?

Bullying can cause injury to health and make people ill, with some or all of the following symptoms. Many, if not all of these symptoms are consequences of the high levels of stress and anxiety that bullying creates

Shattered self-confidence, low self-worth, low self-esteem

Hypersensitivity, fragility, irritability and angry outbursts

Tearfulness, bursting into tears regularly over trivial things

Sweating, trembling, shaking, heart palpitations, panic attacks

• Forgetfulness, poor concentration, obsessed with the thought of being bullied

• Exhaustion, constant fatigue, sleeplessness, nightmares, waking early

• Headaches and migraines• Frequent illnesses, stress plays havoc

with the immune system

Document everything Maintain records at home, not at workForward all emails to your home email

addressKeep memos, emails and other

documents that are evidential of bullyingPrepare and maintain daily detailed notes

of what you said and did, and what others said and did

Think and operate strategically Ultimately, the only thing you can

control is you It is in your best interests to report bullying

to the Union Focus your attention on what you can do

and are doing Mistakes you make as a result of being

bullied, any sickness, absences, and any illness that will be used by a bully to discredit you

• Most bullying is designed to provoke a response that can be used against you

• Always act reasonably so a contrast will emerge between your behavior and the bully's behavior

• Remember that once you decide to resist the bullying, you may be in for the "long haul"

Your style:

Be calm, cool and collected Act disconnected when you feel

emotional. Speak slowly and clearly. Maintain a

relaxed facial expression and body language.

Smile occasionally, when appropriate, to show the bully that nothing bothers you

A single comment communicates far more than a rambling explanation. For example, when a bully unfairly criticizes something you did and asks for an explanation, you could either become defensive and struggle to debate him--which plays right into his hands--or just nonchalantly say: “Because that’s the best way to do it.”

Characteristics of followers: Good: Idealistic: Passive: Self-critical: Fearful: Vulnerable

Good - A bully wants followers who are cooperative, conscientious and giving. Bullies know that unselfish, caring people are more likely to forgive his/her aggression and continue serving his/her needs, even after years of verbal abuse

Passive - Bullies want followers that are: Polite to a fault, non-confrontational, afraid to debate others openly, easily interrupted, quiet and non-expressive. Introverts are more likely to become subservient to an aggressor

Self-critical - People who are self-critical, lack self-confidence and self-respect are more likely to accept a bully as superior and accept blame on the bully’s behalf

Fearful - People who display a great deal of fear, nervous habits and speech patterns such as a timid tone of voice are usually easier targets for intimidation and manipulation

Vulnerable : Emotionally vulnerable people are also more easily manipulated.

Mobbing: Encourages other staff members to “mob” the target; “ganging up” and gossiping

Why report bullying to the union?

The union is here to protect your rights

Possible grievance for violations under - Article 23 – Health and Safety - 23.1 The CSU recognizes the importance of procedures and policies for the protection of health and safety of employees and shall endeavor to maintain such conditions conducive to the health and safety of the employees.

Why report bullying to the union?Possible…..

Complaint for violation of the Zero Tolerance Policy for Threats or Acts of Violence

Grievance under Article 23 Health and Safety

Executive Order 1096 Systemwide Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Against Employees & Third Parties

What information will the union need?

The union will ask you to explain what is happening to you in your workplace

Examples of the bullying behavior will help your union steward to understand what you are going through

We will work with you to find the best course of action

Discussion

Chapter 319 E-Board

Deborah Campbell, President Sheila Taylor, Vice President Sandra Harper, Secretary Robert Rice, Treasurer Loretta “Rhett” Villanueva, Organizing Chair Vacant, BU2 Representative Reggie Keys, BU5 Representative Rocky Sanchez, BU7 Representative 7 & Chief

Steward Hector Maciel, BU9 Representative

Chapter 319 StewardsDeborah Campbell, x 4557Sheila Taylor, x 2872Sandra Harper, x3355Robert Rice, x5316Rhett Villanueva, x6428Reggie Reyes, x4137Rocky Sanchez, x2683Hector Maciel, x4035Cindi Ganti, x 3030Randy Hallock, x3030Francisco Vitela, x3030Patricia Arellano, x3030

Acknowledgement to Cal State Long Beach’s Chapter 315 and their Chapter President Janine LicausiWorkplace Bullying Institute website: http://www.workplacebullying.org/news/