Bullying isn’t limited to the playground. The same culture of fear and domination by bullies can be found in too many workplaces. Bullying at work can take obvious forms such as shouting at colleagues, hurling insults and outright sabotaging their work. It can take more subtle forms like talking behind someone’s back, starting false rumours, engaging in reputation demolition, and making consistently degrading, demeaning or insulting comments. What should you do if you’re getting bullied in the workplace?

Set Emotional Boundaries

Setting emotional boundaries is something you can do to protect yourself. You can acknowledge that the person is a bully and then set emotional boundaries that protect you from the worst of the aftermath. Don’t engage in drama or get caught up in the drama created by others. Don’t get caught up in someone else’s bad behaviour. Cultivate allies at work so you can find support when dealing with difficult situations. Maintain a degree of emotional distance when the bully is yelling or acting out, recognising that it is them, not you. If they say things that are out of line, ask them to justify what they said.

Gather Evidence

If you’re dealing with a consistent pattern of bullying behaviour, collect evidence. Take notes of what they did that was considered offensive or insulting. Gather emails or other records that are evidence of the behaviour you’re seeking to address. Then talk to Human Resources or that person’s boss about the issue. Where applicable, talk to your trade union. If you have evidence and facts on your side, it doesn’t come across as tattling.

Start Your Own Business

If you can’t handle a toxic workplace, one of the best choices you can make is considering starting your own business, especially one that lets you be your own boss without having to invest much capital. Why would you consider starting a business? There’s no need to have interviews with dozens of firms hoping to get a job and explaining why you left. People will know why you left – you started your own business.

Working as a landscape gardener, for example, has a number of advantages. You don’t need formal qualifications. This job is one that lets you get to work quickly, especially during the warmer months. It could tide you over until you find a new job, supplement your part-time income, or become a full-time job in and of itself. You just need a number of tools, some of which you may find in your shed or garage. Don’t forget the personal protective equipment. You’ll also want to get the legal side sorted out and secure insurance.

You may need to rent or buy heavy equipment such as mowers; this is crucial to working efficiently when dealing with large areas. Power tools like thermal leaf blowers featured on souffleurthermique.fr make the work faster and easier. If you have tools like these, you could finish the work in a third to half the time, allowing you or your crew to double or triple the billable work they finish each day.

There are a number of ways to deal with bullying, and you can take it to the next level of management if necessary. However, sometimes the only option is to leave and turn over a new leaf in life.

It was Steve’s last day of high school, and he couldn’t wait to see the back of that place. Apart from his only friend, Michael, he’d been relentlessly bullied by the ‘popular’ bunch, who’d gradually turned most of the school against him. As he sat at his desk in science class for the last time, he remembered that awful day when Billy, the ringleader of the group, had sprayed an aerosol can at a lit Bunsen burner after Lily, a sweet, quiet girl who used to sit next to Steve in class, had tried to stick up for him. She’d never returned to that school, and Steve didn’t blame her. His parents had tried to move him to another school too, but countless meetings later and he was still here.

But, he’d stuck it out, and now he never had to speak to Billy and his group of bullies again.

Two Years Later:

Now in college, Steve was finally pursuing his dreams to become an engineer, but he felt like something was missing. His bad experience at school had left him with crippling anxiety, and as a result, he’d decided to stay home with his mom and dad, commuting to the nearest college every day for class. He’d made some friends but felt like he was missing out on the college lifestyle because he was so scared of getting bullied all over again. Michael had gone to college over a hundred miles away in a different state, and Steve found himself spending more of his spare time visiting his grandparents. This evening, he was going to help Grandpa pick out a new lawn mower.

That Evening:

His classes and homework for the day finished, Steve got in his truck and drove to his grandparents’ house, where he was welcomed with a big hug and an ice-cold glass of lemonade from his Grandma – just what he needed in the scorching July heat. Steve didn’t know what he would have done without his grandparents – as their only grandchild, they’d supported him through thick and thin and helped him believe in himself even at his lowest points. His Grandpa always said that Steve had a knack for outdoor equipment, and he’d never go to the store to buy a new product without him. Tonight was no different – at the store, Steve meticulously went through all the pros and cons of the different mowers until they found the perfect match for his Grandpa’s needs. ‘Son, people should pay you for this!’ Grandpa exclaimed.

Three Years Later:

Grandpa’s words that night got Steve thinking. ‘What if I could charge people to help them pick the right outdoor gear?’, he thought to himself. In fact, it would be the perfect job – he’d always had a passion for outdoor equipment, ever since he was ten years old and he helped his dad pick out a snow blower that winter. And, he loved to help others; he’d resolved to be the complete opposite of his bullies. So, Steve set to work and Verellenhc.com was born.

Now, Steve writes guides and tips to help others pick all kinds of outdoor gear, and answers hundreds of emails a week. And, the years of being bullied are well and truly behind him. Now a father, Billy turned up at Steve’s front door in tears to apologize. The two became firm friends. Today, Billy works for Steve as his accountant and together they run a text helpline for bullied kids.