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Bullying In The Workplace

Decent Essays

Every workplace has a unique environment for their employees to feel comfortable, so they are effective and efficient in their duties. Unfortunately, some workplace environments, including police organizations, have allowed and created hostility that will affect the employee’s performance. Common terms including bullying, psychological harassment, psychological violence, and emotional abuse are becoming far too familiar in workplace environments (Workplace Bullying Institute, 2015). The effects of workplace bullying can lead to a multitude of problems for the police organization as well as the individual (Randall, 2001). Workplace bullying will directly impact the productivity, health, and morale of police officers (Workplace Bullying Institute, …show more content…

If there is a decrease in productivity, then employers must determine what the causes of that decrease. When an employee feels like they are being harassed or bullied by a coworker, or supervisor then typically organizations will see a decrease in productivity (Randall, 2001). Unfortunately, police organizations may never realize that the decrease in productivity is a direct result of workplace bullying. Police officers will typically not report incidents of discrimination or workplace bullying for fear retaliation, or being labeled by their peers for reporting such incidents. Ultimately, police officers are evaluated on their productivity to include monthly, quarterly, and yearly evaluations. Supervisors of police organizations may not be able to determine the root cause of a decrease in productivity if the employee does not report that they are being bullied by a coworker or supervisor. Furthermore, police officers are expected to have thicker skin, and not be affected by actions or words of others. Supervisors played an important role on the organizational standards of a police organization, and must enforce policy violations. Unfortunately, if a police supervisor is unaware of what is occurring than it is extremely difficult for them to enforce policy violations. Victims of workplace bullying in police organizations must report the bully so that police supervisors can enforce the …show more content…

Police officers are expected to deal with problems that most people are unwilling to deal with themselves. As a private citizen people expect police officers to perform at the highest standard at all times, and especially when they are in a time of need. Police officers who are experienced workplace bullying will typically resort to unhealthy actions and behaviors (Samnani, 2013). Some of those behaviors can possibly turn into addictions to include gambling, drinking, and unhealthy eating habits (Conroy, 2014). The direct result of these behaviors can result in serious medical problems to include diabetes, stress, anxiety, depression, and cardiac issues (Workplace Bullying Institute, 2015). Victims of workplace bullying use these unhealthy behaviors to remove themselves from reality, and live in a fantasy world where their problems do not exist (Conroy, 2014). Ultimately, workplace bullying in police organizations can leave the victim with no other alternative than suicide (Conroy, 2014). In order to avoid these serious consequences of workplace bullying in police organizations it is crucial that the victim reports of violations immediately, and then follows up with their supervisor to confirm that it is being

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