Gary Namie - The Bully at Work: What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job

Second Edition

What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job

Gary Namie, PhD

and Ruth Namie, PhD

Copyright 2000, 2003, 2009 by Gary Namie and Ruth Namie
Cover and internal design copyright 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc.
Cover design Noelle Stransky Workplace Bullying Institute
Internal images Workplace Bullying Institute
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data for the first edition:
Namie, Gary

The bully at work: what you can do to stop the hurt and reclaim your dignity on the job / Gary Namie, Ruth Namie.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Bullying in the workplace. I. Namie, Ruth. II. Title.

HF5549.5.E43 N348 2000

650.13dc21

00-024737

Printed and bound in the United States of America

VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

In memory of Lillian and Florence and to Pat,
the three women who always gave unconditional love and support.

In memory of Heinz Leymann and Andrea Adams, pioneers.

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and injustice.

Robert F. Kennedy

Dear Reader:

This book contains information, suggestions, and opinions about improving the quality of peoples lives from the authors. The use, misuse, understanding, or misunderstanding of the material, in whole or part, is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Neither the publisher nor authors assume responsibility or liability, jointly or individually, to any person, group, organization, or entity regarding any emotional or material loss, damage, or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. The authors do not represent themselves as licensed psychologists or mental health professionals.

Readers are advised to use this material in a safe and logical manner. In some cases, this material is most effective when used in conjunction with professional legal and/or counseling services.

Some of the most beautiful things in Nature are the giant sequoia and redwood trees that grow in Ruths native California. Nature, in her wisdom, only allows new growth of these trees to come from destruction of the seed pod by fire. It was through personal destruction and pain that our cause was born.

At the top of the list to thank are the thousands of anonymous people who visit with us virtually at the website or by telephone to share their stories, seek advice, or look for support. They, in turn, launched the Workplace Bullying Institute, the U.S. anti-bullying movement, with their sacrifices.

Friend and ally David Yamada, Suffolk University law professor, is the legal pioneer whose treatise on workplace bullying in 2000 launched the legal reform aspect of our work. He authored the language for the Healthy Workplace Bill introduced in state legislatures throughout America. We are also blessed by the friendship of overseas experts who encourage the introduction of bullying awareness to the United StatesAndy Ellis, Susan Marais-Steinman, Michael Sheehan, Charlotte Rayner, Helge Hoel, and Stle Einarsenand domestic academicians Loraleigh Keashly and Joel Neuman. The growing group of citizen lobbyist volunteers who comprise the WBI-Legislative Campaign Coordinators inspire and motivate us constantly.

We especially acknowledge Cindy Waitt, director of the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention, for support including sponsorship of the first national scientific prevalence pollthe 2007 WBI-Zogby U.S. Workplace Bullying Surveyand the national project to demonstrate that reducing adult bullying in schools creates an anti-abusive climate for everyone so learning can occur.

Thanks to the Sourcebooks team who embraced the anti-bullying movement and have published three editions of this book.

We acknowledge the support of those closest and dearest to our hearts, sons Rob, Sean, and Macario.

Finally, thanks for the steadfast love from Ike Namie. He made WBI and all the dreams possible.

Life for the Namies changed in 1996 when Dr. Ruth ran into a horrific woman supervisor as an employee in a psychiatric clinic. In her life before completing a PhD in clinical psychology and specializing in chemical dependency treatment, Ruth had been a corporate training director, management consultant, and retail manager. Gary (PhD, social psychology) was a professor at several universities, the director of two corporate training departments, and a management consultant.

The couples fight for justice began in 1998 with the founding of the Campaign Against Workplace Bullying. The nonprofit organization morphed during its first decade into the Workplace Bullying Institute, which serves Americans and Canadians. The accomplishments of which we are most proud are that we imported the British term workplace bullying to the United States, started the national dialogue, and sustain it in more ways than originally imagined.

Researchdata from empirical surveys and over 5,000 intensive interviewsdistinguishes WBI from well-intentioned newcomers to the fight against bullying. Surveys started with a modest set of questions in 1998, growing to the national scientific survey conducted with partner Zogby International, and continuing with state-of-the-art descriptive empirical studies, scientific conference presentations, and publications in peer-reviewed academic journals. Interviews began when we offered toll-free advice starting in 1998. Financial complications from the practice compelled its termination, but we learned much of what we know from those who shared their suffering.

The Namies educate the public. Their bullying-related research and work have been featured numerous times on network TVCNBC, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Nightline, CNNon local TV, and in the national pressNew York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, National Post, Financial Post, Toronto Star, Macleansand radio across the United States and Canada. Appearances total over 700 in all media.