Workplace bullying: What to do if it happens to your teen

Any parent with a child in the school system or extracurricular activities is at least a bit familiar with the various anti-bullying measures and programs in place, as well as some of the consequences of bullying. Bullying can also, unfortunately, happen on the job. Read on to learn more about how to help your teen if they experience bullying at work.

What is workplace bullying?

The word “bullying” is not used in workplace legislation, says Kristin Onorato, an Occupational Health & Safety Consultant at Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. Instead, it falls into the category of either violence or harassment. Harassment is defined as “engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome.” According to the federal organization, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) points out, “in a respectful workplace, everyone is courteous and considerate in their interactions with each other, as well as with customers, clients and the public." It’s a simple but meaningful approach in a world where basic manners can sometimes be overlooked.

• Bullying is usually seen as acts or verbal comments that could psychologically hurt or isolate a person in the workplace.
• It has also been described as the assertion of power through aggression.
• Sometimes, bullying can involve negative physical contact as well.
• Bullying usually involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that is intended to intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate a particular person or group of people. 

Bullying and the rights of workers

The main thing to remember is that no one should put up with bullying on the job, says Kristin. “If somebody is being mean to you, making those unpleasant comments, threatening you, it’s not okay, it’s not acceptable, it’s not something that you have to live with,” she says. 

Workplace bullying outside the workplace

Kristin adds that bullying doesn’t have to happen in the actual workplace to be considered workplace bullying. Examples include a work-related social event where someone is making offensive comments, being violent or participating in a group text or other form of digital communication (even if it is not a work platform) if it is about a co-worker and falls into the violence or harassment categories. “Younger workers might think that social media messaging ‘doesn’t count,’ but if you’re communicating with people you work with, it does count,” she says. “Your voice on social media is very much something that can be relevant to the workplace as well. It certainly brings about a whole new level of what cyberbullying looks like.”

Internet harassment or cyberbullying

According to the CCOHS, some cyberbullying examples are: 

• sending unsolicited and/or threatening e-mail
• encouraging others to send the victim unsolicited and/or threatening e-mails or to overwhelm the victim with e-mail  messages
• sending viruses by e-mail (electronic sabotage)
• spreading rumours
• making defamatory comments about the victim online
• sending negative messages directly to the victim
• impersonating the victim online by sending an inflammatory, controversial or enticing message which causes others to respond negatively to the victim
• harassing the victim during a live chat
• leaving abusive messages online, including social media sites
• sending the victim pornography or other graphic material that is knowingly offensive
• creating online content that depicts the victim in negative ways

These examples refer to email, but they would likely also apply to texts and direct messaging.

If your child is bullied at work

There are several steps to consider if your child is bullied by a co-worker, supervisor or customer:

• Remove themselves from the situation if there is a threat of physical or sexual assault.
• If they feel comfortable, your child can consider speaking to the offender directly. “You can speak up for yourself: ‘I’m not okay with you saying that, I’m not okay with what that looks like,’” says Kristin.
• If the behaviour happens again, or if your child is not comfortable speaking directly to the bully, take the next step and follow workplace procedures regarding who to report to, and what they need to do next.
• It’s not necessary to have repeated instances of harassment documented, or for harassment to take place over a set period of time, for action to be taken, says Kristin. However, it’s a good idea for your child to keep notes and write down what was said, where they were, if there was a witness, when the incident was reported and to whom.
• Once reported, the company is required to investigate, says Kristin. Your child should be prepared to provide some details, like who was involved, when, and the nature or type of harassment.
• The investigation should take place within a reasonable amount of time, and the company should inform both parties of the results.
• Being bullied at work may leave your child feeling angry, anxious or confused, so be sure to offer reassurance, support, and access to a counsellor or a free service like Kids Help Phone if they need support.