Bullying, in whichever form, is unacceptable. It can be detrimental to a person’s mental and physical wellbeing. Its potential effects include anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and more. It may make you dread going to work or intimidate you to join certain meetings. Bottomline is it isn’t healthy and shouldn’t be tolerated at all. Whether or not you have been a victim of workplace bullying, it pays to know how to handle workplace bullies. Read on for some helpful tips!

Don’t be afraid to speak up
You always have the opportunity to stop bullying right before it even happens to you by speaking up. If anybody at work mistreats you, the best thing you can do for yourself is to call that person’s attention. Let them know that whatever they’re doing isn’t something you can just brush off. Of course, you have to communicate nicely but firmly. Let them understand why their behavior is a problem. It’s easier said than done but you have to learn how to muster up the courage to speak up. This is one of the best ways to stop bullying in its early stages before it’s too late.

Document the incidents of bullying
If you think you are experiencing bullying at work and in whatever form, it would help to have the incident documented. Take note of the time, date and details and if a colleague has witnessed it, be sure to document it, too. You will be able to use this when you decide to seek help from your company’s Human Resource later on.

Also, if the bullying took place in email, text message or similar form, it’s a better idea to keep hard copies of these evidences. Make sure that the dates are indicated, too.

Take time to do some research
Companies may have varying policies when it comes to bullying. Therefore, you have to take time to do research on the formal policies your organization has in place against bullying. Check your employee handbook so that you have something to refer to shall you decide to file a complaint in the future.

You may also consider seeking legal advice to see if the bullying qualifies as other violations like harassment which may warrant a legal course of action.

Talk to your boss
If you have already made an attempt to handle the situation on your end but to no avail, don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or manager. But if the problem is your boss, you may seek help or advice from HR or another person in power to help you tackle the problem.