What is Bullying?

What is bullying?

Bullying is when someone intentionally hurts you. That hurt could be inflicted verbally, physically, socially or psychologically.


What is the difference between having fun and Bullying?

It’s okay to have fun and share a joke, but if it becomes offensive to you and the person/s continually does or says those same things after you’ve requested them to stop, then it has become a form of bullying.


What are typical things that a person would do to bully someone?

* Name calling, which is usually based on a person’s appearance, ethnicity, religion, etc.
* Direct and/or inappropriate physical contact such as pushing, tripping, prodding, kicking, touching, etc.
* Pressuring someone to do something they are not comfortable with.


What sort of person bullies?

It’s not unusual for people that bully others to be very insecure themselves. They also may have been a victim of bullying and are repeating the same pattern in order to feel empowered instead of powerless. Although these ARE valid reasons, they ARE NOT an excuse for continual bad treatment of others.


What should you do if you are the victim of Bullying?

First of all, talk to someone that you feel you can trust and are comfortable with – don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Try to document any incidents that happen, as well as your attempts to stop the bullying. This documentation may help if you make a complaint. Also, find out what the company’s policy is concerning bullying. You can also ask for advice from your industry union and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.


How can Bullying affect you?

Bullying can make you feel alone, isolated and scared, can cause you to want to withdraw from people and situations, affect your self-esteem, cause stress at work and in your personal life, make you not want to go to work, can make you sick, possibly cause or trigger depression. The worst affect bullying can have on someone is suicide.


What are your rights?

It is the right of every person to carry out their everyday activities without being bullied, hassled or harassed in any way. If you are being bullied, hassled or harassed, then it is your right to take action and work with employers / co-workers / friends / counselors to ensure it is stopped.


Any other information you think will be helpful….

If you let bullying continue for a long period of time it can have serious and possibly long term mental and physical affects. Put a stop to it as soon as possible, no person deserves to be treated that way.