Margaret R. Kohut - The Complete Guide to Understanding, Controlling, and Stopping Bullies & Bullying at Work: A Complete Guide for Managers, Supervisors, and Co-Workers

The Complete Guide to Understanding, Controlling, and Stopping Bullies & Bullying at Work

A Guide for Managers, Supervisors, and Employees

By Margaret R. Kohut, MSW

Certified Criminal Justice Specialist, Certified Forensic Counselor, Certified Domestic Violence Counselor Level III, Master Addiction Counselor, Certified Life Coach

This Atlantic Publishing eBook was professionally written, edited, fact checked, proofed and designed. Over the years our books have won dozens of book awards for content, cover design and interior design including the prestigious Benjamin Franklin award for excellence in publishing. We are proud of the high quality of our books and hope you will enjoy this eBook version, which is the same content as the print version.

The Complete Guide to Understanding, Controlling, and Stopping Bullies and Bullying at Work: A Guide for Managers, Supervisors, and Employees

Copyright 2007 Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be sent to Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc., 1210 SW 23rd Place, Ocala, Florida 34471.

ISBN 13: 978-1-60138-236-8 ISBN 10: 1-60138-236-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kohut, Margaret R.

The complete guide to understanding, controlling, and stopping bullies & bullying at work : a complete guide for managers, supervisors, and co-workers / Margaret R. Kohut ; forward by Tina Y. Bryant.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60138-236-8 (alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 1-60138-236-7 (alk. paper)

1. Bullying in the workplace--Prevention. 2. Violence in the workplace--Prevention. I. Title.

HF5549.5.B84K64 2008

658.38--dc22

2008005870

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising here from. The fact that an organization or Web site is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Web site may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Web sites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

A few years back we lost our beloved pet dog Bear, who was not only our best and dearest friend but also the Vice President of Sunshine here at Atlantic Publishing. He did not receive a salary but worked tirelessly 24 hours a day to please his parents.

Bear was a rescue dog who turned around and showered myself, my wife, Sherri, his grandparents Jean, Bob, and Nancy, and every person and animal he met (well, maybe not rabbits) with friendship and love. He made a lot of people smile every day.

We wanted you to know a portion of the profits of this book will be donated in Bears memory to local animal shelters, parks, conservation organizations, and other individuals and nonprofit organizations in need of assistance.

Douglas and Sherri Brown

PS: We have since adopted two more rescue dogs: first Scout, and the following year, Ginger. They were both mixed golden retrievers who needed a home.

Want to help animals and the world? Here are a dozen easy suggestions you and your family can implement today:

• Adopt and rescue a pet from a local shelter.
• Support local and no-kill animal shelters.
• Plant a tree to honor someone you love.
• Be a developer put up some birdhouses.
• Buy live, potted Christmas trees and replant them.
• Make sure you spend time with your animals each day.
• Save natural resources by recycling and buying recycled products.
• Drink tap water, or filter your own water at home.
• Whenever possible, limit your use of or do not use pesticides.
• If you eat seafood, make sustainable choices.
• Support your local farmers market.
• Get outside. Visit a park, volunteer, walk your dog, or ride your bike.

Five years ago, Atlantic Publishing signed the Green Press Initiative. These guidelines promote environmentally friendly practices, such as using recycled stock and vegetable-based inks, avoiding waste, choosing energy-efficient resources, and promoting a no-pulping policy. We now use 100-percent recycled stock on all our books. The results: in one year, switching to post-consumer recycled stock saved 24 mature trees, 5,000 gallons of water, the equivalent of the total energy used for one home in a year, and the equivalent of the greenhouse gases from one car driven for a year.

Dedication

This book is respectfully dedicated to the millions of Americans from all walks of life that have been, or still are, subjected to workplace bullying who told me their stories of heartbreak and dignity,

And to the steadfast spouses, partners, children, attorneys, friends, and counselors who see them through the worst days of their lives.

Most of all, to my husband, Tristan, whose wise counsel, courage, and unfaltering devotion always make our home a soft place to fall. My love and thanks for letting me lay my world on you.

Foreword

Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.
Anna Julia Cooper

By Tina Y. Bryant, LMSW

If you have been, or know someone who has been, bullied in their workplace, it may help you to know that millions of Americans have also suffered from workplace bullying. There are many who will be able to identify with the contents of this book. The Complete Guide to Understanding, Controlling, and Stopping Bullies & Bullying at Work: A Guide for Managers, Supervisors, and Employees is especially relevant in this time of constant battles being played out in office settings every day. This guide provides poignant examples, answers, knowledge, and empowerment to those who have been bullied or are currently experiencing this abuse in their workplace. No one should be subjected to such harsh, devastating, and often illegal treatment by bosses, coworkers and subordinates that perpetuates a lifetime of emotional and physical distress upon the individual target of bullying. Workplace bullying is underreported since workers fear losing their jobs if they become whistleblowers. Thus, it is difficult for legislators and human rights activists to develop laws and workplace policies that can eliminate this vicious behavior that is so prevalent in todays workforce.