Workplace bullying is an experience that four out of five employees 23 million people will deal with at some point during their careers, according to a Wayne State University study. It doesn't just make for a hard day at the office. Being the victim of a brutal boss leads to clinical depression in 41 percent of victims, according to a survey by Bullybusters.org, an online nonprofit in Benicia, Calif., that advises victims of workplace abuse. The behavior also causes sleep disorders, ulcers, high blood pressure and even post-traumatic stress disorder. It eats away at self-confidence and leaves victims feeling inadequate and isolated.
Bullying is also bad for business.
Studies show that overly aggressive bosses cause high turnover rates, reduced productivity and increased employee absences. And the victims are often hesitant to come forward, fearing that others will see them as weak or incompetent. Paul Westlund worked his way up from temporary technician to the lead of the software development department at a San Francisco Bay Area payroll company before he ran into his bully. He says a new manager targeted him for abuse after Westlund defended a co-worker the manager was yelling at in public. After that, Westlund became the target.