Abstract - Judy M. Cummins

The expectation of working in a healthy environment may seem reasonable to most people, but too many employees find themselves the target of a male or female bully on the job. This paper reviews the current state of research on the serious subject of workplace bullying, which statistics show can cause both health and mental problems leading to job inefficiency.  In extreme cases, victims of workplace bullying have returned to their jobs armed with weapons, which usually ends with fatalities.  Similar situations occur with high school and college students who return to school premises with weapons seeking revenge on fellow students or faculty members.  Key findings have confirmed that bullying in the United States has become an epidemic.  A study conducted in 2007 revealed that 37% of Americans encounter harassment on the job and bullying is four times more prevalent than other forms of harassment.  Studies conducted in Europe indicate that bullying can start on the playground and if left unchecked can become far more problematic in adults who could be co-workers, managers or supervisors in the workplace.  Research shows that children who do not have positive role models, or who are victims themselves, are more likely to become bullies.  Bullying is not gender-specific.  Women driven by their desire for power can be just as ruthless as their male counterparts.  A study undertaken in Britain polled individuals employed in the private, public and non-profit sectors.  The study found that approximately the same proportion of men and women are likely to be victimized by bullies—22% of men and 28% of women.  While bullying laws have been established in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and other countries, there are currently no laws against bullying in the United States.  From 2003 until the present, sixteen states have introduced the anti-bullying Healthy Workplace Bill to outlaw workplace bullying.

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