Stand Up to Bullying and Create a Happy Workspace

“Stand Up to Bullying” campaigns have been growing within schools over the past several years. However, many business owners are unaware of workplace bullying. From employees bullied within the workspace, to companies bullied by their competition, bullying in business is real. Small businesses don’t need to fall victim to bullying from their competition when they obtain business loans for bad credit. February 24th is as International Stand Up to Bullying day, and it’s time to take action.

One-third of employees say they have been victims of workplace bullying. Therefore, it is important to understand how to recognize it and stop it. Employees flourish in a happy workspace, and that is not possible when bullying is present.

How to Recognize Workplace Bullying

Bullies in your workspace are not very different from schoolyard bullies. Watch for the following signs to determine if you have a bully lurking in your place of business:

• Deceit - Bullies are liars. They will tell people what they want to hear so they can get their way. They lie to place blame and make others look bad instead of themselves.
• False flattery - Workplace bullies use fake flattery to manipulate others into doing what they want. This can be the brown-noser employee who knows how to take advantage of the boss, or the supervisor that lays it on thick to get an employee to take on extra tasks.
• Shaming/Guilt - Bullies are experts at using guilt and shame to get people to do what they want. When you begin to hear this in your business, you know that you have a problem that needs to be addressed.

How Workplace Bullying Can Hurt Your Workspace

Employees flourish in happy workspaces. That is why there are lists created about the top businesses to work for. People want to be happy when they go to work each day. Having a bully in your business can have the following results:

• Low Morale - No matter how strong an employee is, a bully can take a toll on them. They make it hard to want to come to work, therefore making it more difficult for employees to get things done when they are there.
• People Quit - Good employees will quit when fed up with dealing with a bully at work. As soon as they realize that the problem is not going to be addressed, they will look for somewhere else to move on to.
• Health problems - If you notice you have one or more employees who are starting to call in sick more often, it could be the result of bullying. Just like children who are bullied, adults can begin to develop health problems as a result of this treatment.
• Low Productivity - If you notice you have one or more employees who are starting to call in sick more often, it could be the result of bullying. Just like children who are bullied, adults can begin to develop health problems as a result of this treatment.

How to Stand Up to Workplace Bullying

Never tolerate bullying. It doesn’t matter if the bully is your best employee, they need to be dealt with. A business cannot flourish and grow in this environment. Here are some ways to address the problem:

• Create a Policy - While there are no laws that have been passed about bullying, 21 states have tried in the past and will keep trying. Until then, do your part by creating an in-house No Bullying Policy. When you establish set ground rules everyone within your organization will know what to expect.
• Fire Employees - Good employees will quit when fed up with dealing with a bully at work. As soon as they realize that the problem is not going to be addressed, they will look for somewhere else to move on to.
• Take Complaints Seriously - Make sure your employees know that you care. Have an open door policy and follow through on any complaints that you receive.
• Lead by Example - The best way to lead is by modeling the appropriate behavior. Do not bully your employees. Do not manipulate them into doing the jobs you want them to do. Intimidation is not an appropriate form of motivation.

When Your Business is Bullied

In business, many small businesses are bullied by their competition. If you are a small business that has experienced this, take action to put yourself in a better situation. Do not stand for bullying.

If your business has been unable to grow because of bad credit and issues in your past, don’t give up. Some traditional lenders bully small businesses over their strict requirements, but that does not mean you have no options. You might qualify for business loans for bad credit through Tiger Funding.

We provide business loans for bad credit that are fast and easy to obtain. We want to see small businesses succeed and work with companies turned down by other lending sources. You can apply today using our online form.

Do your part to help put an end to all bullying.