Workshop facilitator: Tineke de Rijk
Violence: the ultimate effect of bullying
In the summer of 1999 I stayed some weeks in the USA. In that period the debate on "Violence at the workplace" intensified. There were some awful so called "shootings" by disappointed workers who killed their bosses and coworkers. One stockbroker, having lost his money, marched into two brokerage firms in Atlanta and killed 9 people and wounded 13 others.
This is exceptional. But the case brought in memory other workers who lost their minds. In 1997 in the USA 87 people were killed by (former) coworkers or customers. 44 people were killed at work by spouses, lovers or ex-lovers.
I don't have that dates for Holland. But I know for example that customers' behaviour and the fear for roberies have become important issues for Social Service Offices and supermarkets. Companies now develop programs to train their workers in how to handle aggressive clients. And how to react if someone tries to rob the company.
Several companies, including banks, also have "after" programs to heal the shock people experience if something has happened.
It's clear that companies should protect their workers from the risk of violence and train them to have a proper reaction if they are confronted with aggression. You cannot deny the dangers of modern society.
Violence at the workplace is one issue to be recognized. Violence from outside the company should be prevented as much as possible. The city offices for social services in Amsterdam for example have rooms where clientys cannot do any harm. Even the chairs are attached to the floor and the consultant has an alarm button.
But the "dangers" are not only coming from the outside of the company. Studies show that "outbursts" between coworkers had signs that things were building up over time. The guy who decides one morning to drive his van into his coworkers turns out to have been bullied or excluded for a long time. Mostly the "losers" plan an act of despair. Recognizing signs before things go wrong is the only way to prevent. That is both a challenge for managers and coworkers. This also means that managers have to be trained in communicative skills and problem solving.
Bullying
Bullying means a systematical process of scape goating of mostly one person who is not able to defend himself. bullying is not just a joke (as most people will say) or something else than just making jokes. Bullying (or "mobbing") excludes mostly one person from the "real" group of workers.
Mostly only "victims" experience being bullied or mobbed. The others like to deny it or don't see it as a problem. "We like to tease, just for a good atmosphere but that doesn't mean we are bad guys."
The victim is often blamed: "It's his own fault, he didn't adjust to our culture." Or: He could have been more assertive and not behave like this. It was so easy to bully..."