When The Playground Bully Becomes An Adult Workplace Bully

The recent high-profile example of bullying in the workplace comes from the National Football League and the Miami Dolphins. Reports recently surfaced that Richie Incognito harassed and bullied his teammate, Jonathan Martin, a fellow offensive lineman. The alleged bullying included voicemails and text messages with numerous racial epithets, profanities, threats of violence, and derogatory terms referencing sexual orientation. Incognito was a member of the team's leadership council and has been suspended. Martin has temporarily left the team after teammates pulled a prank in the team cafeteria, and he has accused the franchise of having an unsafe work environment. It is not clear what role management, the coaching staff, or the rest of the team played in the harassment, but there is a report that members of the coaching staff encouraged Incognito to "toughen up" Martin. While it is highly unlikely that this behavior was unnoticed, many employees treat workplace bullying like the children's character "Not Me." It may be happening somewhere, but not here.

The heavy media coverage and attention given to the bullying in the Miami Dolphins' locker room brings to light an issue that is far too common in the workplace. Research commissioned by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) and conducted by Zogby International brings to light the prevalence of bullying in today's workplaces, reporting that "35 percent of the US workforce (an estimated 53.5 million Americans) report being bullied at work; an additional 15 percent witness it. Half of all Americans have directly experienced it." Bullies share common characteristics and are typically subservient to individuals higher in the organization while bullying peers and people who report to them. Males are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior than women, but females have also bullied co-workers, typically towards other women. The situation is exacerbated when high-profile bullies find success and fame. Forbes.com posted a "Bully Bosses of Fame" that included Steve Jobs of Apple and Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour, the inspiration for the best-selling novel and hit movie "The Devil Wears Prada." The success of bullies only serves to breed more bullies as younger workers emulate the style of those in authority.

A workplace becomes a "hostile work environment" when an employee experiences insulting, intimidating conduct because of the employee's gender, race, national origin, disability...