Workplace Intimidation by definition is:

“To frighten someone into doing or not doing something, by means of violence, threats or blackmail”.
To: “Create a feeling of fear, awe, or inadequacy in another person”.

If this is sounding all too familiar then you may be the victim of or witness to workplace intimidation.

It has been reported that more than 25% of employed workers feel intimidated at work and this number is growing according to a new CareerBuilder survey.

So, who do you think does the most intimidating? That’s right, it’s the bosses and managers of the companies and corporations where you work. This is not to say that workplace intimidation is exclusive to management, co-workers can and sometimes do intimidate as well.

But they don’t do the things you hear about in school yard bullying cases like taking someone’s lunch money or physically shoving them around.

The question is this, does it mean that your being intimidated at work isn’t really bullying but maybe just bad behavior or aggressive personalities. After all, intimidation at work could be just another wayof keeping control of workers.

Don’t jump to that conclusion too fast.

When I reviewed the list of the most common offenses by people that have been targeted with workplace intimidation, I was surprised by the way that so many of them don’t understand or realize that they are actually, by definition, being bullied.

For instance, the biggest offense was simply ignoring a workers comments. This doesn’t seem like the type of thing that one would normally consider an intimidating behavior.

This is rude and not very good managing, but is it truly a type of workplace bullying?

Actually it is and is done intentionally to break down the persons confidence level and cause self doubts in them.

Having disagreements with your co-workers or boss every so often really isn’t a part of this type of bullying.

But, when workplace intimidation occurs consistently, day after day, month after month without end, and with the intention of breaking you down psychologically, then you have a serial offender and a true workplace bully.

Here are some questions that will help you discover if you are the victim of workplace intimidation.

By reading over these questions, you will be able to define and identify these bullying behaviors.

Even if they are very subtle and only seem to be an annoyance right now, you need to be aware that they might escalate.

•     Are you continually glared at with hostility?
•     Are you being ignored when you request assistance?
•     Are you constantly being yelled at or put down at work?
•     Are you always the subject of practical jokes and nasty pranks?
•     Are you constantly being lied to?
•     Are you the target of false rumors or gossiping?
•     Are you being given huge workloads that are impossible to complete?
•     Does someone continuously interrupt you while you are trying to speak?
•     Have attempts been made to turn coworkers against you?
•     Is someone else taking credit for your work or the ideas that you have?
•     Are you always being reprimanded in front of your fellow workers?

When you ask yourself these questions and they resonate with your own circumstances at work then it is likely that you are being intimidated by a workplace bully.

These types of intimidation’s that go on and on with no letting up will be very detrimental to your happiness and good health.