Bullies Among Us

This is the first announcement of my new book, which is scheduled to be published next month. It is titled—but what else?—Bullies Among Us. What to Do When Work’s No Fun and is a resource for targets of bullies and for managers of bullies and targets.

Among other places, it will be available in the bookstore of the Human Resources-Southwest Regional Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, when I co-present with Bonnie Mattick, www.bonniemattick.com, on workplace behaviors as related to employee engagement.

I am most grateful to Bob Kelly of www.WordCrafters.info and Vickie Mullins, www.mullinscreative.com, for their help and guidance in producing this book.

International Workplace Bullying Conference

The Sixth International Workplace Bullying Conference came to North America for the first time when convened in Montreal, June 2008. During the Conference, the Founding Board formed a new organization, The International Association on Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace.

Founding Board members stem from
• The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark
• University of Quebec, Montreal
• Centre for Research on Workplace Behaviour, Wales
• University of Bergen, Norway
• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki
• Portsmouth Business School, UK

The origins of the Board members testifies to the fact that Workplace Bullying is and has been taken very seriously in European countries, more so than in the United States. Yet, the problem is rampant here as well.

Cultural characteristics account for some of the difference in outlook and approach to workplace bullying. For example, overall, United States culture is more individualistic than that of any of the countries mentioned above. That people should take care of their own problems is common thinking. Also, Canada, Finland, Denmark, and Norway have been characterized by research as Feminine cultures, that is, more concerned about people and relationships than are Masculine cultures, such as the U.S., which focus on achievement above relationships.

However, the United States was represented at the Conference by Pamela Lutgen-Sandvik, Ph.D., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, who was voted to the Inaugural Board of Directors of the new International Association. Dr. Lutgen-Sandvik has conducted in-depth research on workplace bullying.

The anti-bullying movement is gaining strength in the U.S. Thirteen states have introduced anti-bullying bills, some repeatedly. None have passed—yet. As was the case with legislation against sexual harassment, it’s only a matter of time.

Meanwhile, helping targets of bullies to take self-defensive action is key to their survival.

Political Parties Differ in Response to Bullying Question

In this year of the presidential election, it is interesting to note the difference among members of the three political parties in terms of workplace bullying. When asked who had NEVER seen or experienced bullying, 57% of Republicans responded, 43% of Independents, and 39% of Democrats. Would knowing these differences affect your choice of presidential candidate?

Source: Workplace Bullying Institute and Zogby Interntional’s U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey, 2007. www.BullyingInstitute.org.