Difference between Harassment & Bullying - Workplace

Bullying and Harassments are two of the major problematic behaviors in today's workplace. Most of the people took it as same and could not differentiate between these two behavior. The understanding of these two behaviors are necessary as in the eyes of law, they are both different. I would describe the difference between bullying and harassment and  would also propose strategies to overcome these behaviors  in your workplace. 

Workplace Bullying

It is a repeated pattern of mistreatment and unwelcome behavior from others towards a particular employee or a group of employees  that could cause harm and create a risk to health and safety. It can include verbal, nonverbal, psychological, physical abuse and humiliation. Workplace bullying is different than the typical school bully, as it operates within established rules and policies of the organization. In workplace bullying, it is usually from top towards subordinate(s), however, peers can also be involved in bullying. Workplace bullying causes demotivation, dissatisfaction, anxiety, stress and demoralization in the target employee.

Workplace Harassment

Harassment is a topic which cover a range offensive behaviors. It is repetitive in nature causes disturbance, stress and anxiety. In the workplace, it is a negative behavior which can offend, humiliate or intimidate a target employee or group of employees based on their race, culture, age, gender or religion. In workplace, sexual harassment is most common and unwanted behavior, where the consequences of refusing could be potentially very disadvantageous to the victim. 



How to avoid these behaviors at workplace


Following preventives measures should be taken in order to avoid bullying and workplace harassment.
  1. Zero tolerance policy on workplace bullying and harassment should be adopted
  2. Clear policy guidelines with strict disciplinary procedures should be circulated and communicated among the employees. 
  3. Orientation sessions and training shall be arranged in order to aware the employees to identify these negative behaviors but also to provide awareness to the consequences
  4. If certain case/situation arises in the organization, immediate disciplinary action should be initiated, even if victim does not wish to complaint. Matter should be probed and policy guidelines shall be improved in order to avoid certain incidents in the future. 
  5. Victims of such cases shall not be penalized in anyway, psychological treatment should be provided. 

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