She developed stomach problems, and she rarely had a proper night's sleep. When the chance came to retire, she jumped on it. The group invited several speakers to address what some say is a growing problem of emotional abuse on the job. To be fair, work tensions and personality conflicts between bosses and their employees are hardly new issues. Nonetheless, some observers believe workplace bullying goes further.
True harassers cross the line by using fear and intimidation to control and dominate subordinates.
The results can be serious for those on the receiving end, prompting stress-related illnesses and depression. That could include everything from downplaying or belittling a worker's contributions in front of others, to verbally harassing a worker, to simply ignoring requests for information. These are systematic assault campaigns. The bullies try to redefine the target's persona. They interfere with their reputations.