A succinct and easy to read description of bullying behaviour in the workplace, this book provides focused background information about the challenging ‘interpersonal’ and intrapersonal’ relationships of the bullying drama. The text is presented in three parts: Part I: The bullying phenomenon, Part II: Narratives of those affected by workplace bullying, and Part III: Bullying and the law.
Part I focuses on the complex and multifaceted dynamics of workplace bullying. The environment in which bullying can take place with emphasis on the bully, the target/victim, and the bystander. The different types of bullying, the effects on employees, and the consequences on the organisation are discussed.
In Part II, the real narratives of six individuals who have experienced workplace bullying are presented. Their account is followed with a reflection and commentary by each participant. Since the voices of the bullied are seldom heard, it is important to appreciate and understand the impact of bullying behaviour at work through the narratives of the six participants who all give a meticulous account of their own experiences. These full and often painstaking accounts shed light on the impact of seemingly insignificant behaviours and the difficulty therein to raise concerns. The hidden complexities of workplace bullying behaviour are laid bare.
As the legal aspect in relation to workplace bullying may not initially enter a therapy session or a discussion by others surrounding a bullying episode, it may at some point arise when an adverse situation is taken further and ends in an industrial tribunal. Therefore, in Part III, employment laws with respect to discrimination and harassment, are discussed across comparable jurisdictions. The book ends with some useful websites and recommended reading.
This work is highly recommended for managers, supervisors and leaders, be it in the public sector (e.g. healthcare and education) or the corporate world, and also therapists and management consultants. It is also a must-read for those who have experienced or are experiencing bullying at work to show them they are not alone and give them tools to deal with the repercussions of such behaviour.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements
About the author
Preface
Background
Part I: The bullying phenomenon
1. Introduction to the bullying phenomenon
2. Overt and covert bullying
Examples of overt bullying
Examples of covert bullying
Manager – bully: Intentional/non-intentional
3. The workplace power and control wheel
Background of the workplace bullying power and control wheel
Application of the workplace power and control wheel
Evidence in support of the bullying workplace power and control wheel
Using intimidation
Using emotional abuse
Using isolation
Minimising, denying, and blaming
Using others
Using employer privilege
Using economic abuse
Using coercion and threats
Concluding
4. The bully
The bully defined
The bully’s target
Becoming a victim
5. The empathy trap
6. The bystander
7. The consequences and impact of workplace bullying
The consequences of workplace bullying
The impact of workplace bullying
8. Psychological impact of workplace bullying
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic embitterment disorder
Post-traumatic growth
9. Managing bullying in a working environment
Part II: Narratives of those affected by workplace bulling
10. Introduction to the narratives
11. Catherine’s experience of bullying behaviour at work
Comments
12. Ingrid’s recall of being bullied in an academic research setting
Comments
13. Niall’s recall of being bullied at work
Niall reflecting
Comments
14. Morag’s journey through a bullying episode at work
Morag’s reflection and further pondering on this episode in her working life
Comments
15. Steph: A bystander’s story
Steph reflecting
Comments
16. Emma, the therapist, from a bystander’s point of view
Emma’s reflection
Comments
Part III: Bullying and the law
17. Introduction to the law
18. Legislation in the UK
19. Legislation beyond the UK
European countries, a selection
The Netherlands
France
Germany
The Nordic countries
Commonwealth countries, a selection
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Major powers
Russia
China
Japan
United States of America
The bottom line
References
Useful websites
Recommended reading
Index
About the Author :
Marijke T. Moerman has worked as a person-centred therapist with clients in the mental health field and in private practice. She spent many years researching the phenomenon of workplace bullying, which took on a form of urgency after she experienced the devastation of her own episode of being bullied in her place of work. Since then, she has designed and delivered workshops and published on the subject.
Her book, Not Acceptable: An Exploration of Workplace Bullying, is a succinct and accessible text which was a direct outcome of her own experience and written in the hope it will serve others with similar experiences and to support practitioners, and others, who work with victims of workplace bullying.
She earned her BSc in social science (psychology) from the Open University and her MSc in counselling from the University of Abertay in Dundee. She gained a doctorate in counselling studies in 2011 from the University of Manchester, with a thesis entitled “Working with Suicide: The Impact on the Person-Centred Counsellor”. Marijke found this both challenging and rewarding.
When Marijke is not writing on her next subject of interest, you might find her indulging in spending time with her grandchildren, volunteering in the local museum, spending time with friends, and travelling abroad.
Review :
‘Not Acceptable: An Exploration of Workplace Bullying makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of how to respond effectively to an aspect of contemporary working life that does not receive the attention it deserves. The author skilfully brings together a range of perspectives on workplace bullying, illustrated by compelling narratives of individuals with personal experience of the damage that it can do to relationships, health, and well-being. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in this topic.’
‘Dr Moerman examines workplace bullying from a very human perspective, with illuminating narratives from people affected by bullying. She carefully unpacks mechanisms used to bully and the associated undercurrents of power misuse and victimisation. This book offers useful insights for those seeking to successfully tackle bullying behaviour and those supporting people who are suffering the effects of being the target of a bully.’
‘Not Acceptable: An Exploration of Workplace Bullying is a must-read for anyone dedicated to building a supportive workplace. It offers practical advice and personal stories that illuminate the real impact of bullying, making it an essential guide for HR professionals, leaders, and employees alike.'
