While there is a range of stressors one can be exposed to in the context of employment such as deadlines, workload, financial remuneration and such, bullying is one that has been long ignored. One of

While there is a range of stressors one can be exposed to in the context of employment such as deadlines, workload, financial remuneration and such, bullying is one that has been long ignored.

One of the biggest challenges (1) _________ that victims feel they have no recourse and are unable to speak out. If someone is being bullied by a colleague who holds a superior position in the organization, it seems futile to even (2) _________ a complaint. This is because the

normal outcome seems to be: the human resource (HR) department or the “bosses” will favour the perpetrator. In fact, reporting the problem seems to make thing worse. Hence people either continue to suffer at the workplace (3) _________ are forced to leave on their

own accord. To find out the common forms of bullying encountered at work, one has to put things (4) _________ perspective. Firstly, outright violence (physical harm and verbal threats of physical harm) and sexual abuse or harassment are criminal offences. As such, making a

formal police report will usually set the stage for (5) ________ to be served. Still, many are afraid to take this route for fear of losing their jobs. Most people feel that the HR departments are never on their side.

When it comes to subtler forms of bullying, victims can find it really difficult to seek any recourse. For instance, one common tactic employed by perpetrators is by deliberately and frequently changing your work schedule, or by repeatedly giving you meaningless tasks.

Improper (6) _________ unfair distribution of workload is also common aside from calling for meetings or giving you a tonne of work as you are clearing your desk to go home.

Sometimes, victims are given tasks that are impossible to achieve in a specified timeframe, or due to lack of proper resources, or both. There is also the bully who purposely withholds information or does various other things to prevent you (7) ____________ efficiently completing your tasks.

Furthermore, lying in a grey area are those emails and Whatsapp messages that are sent after work hours or on weekends. If we do not respond to them but other colleagues do, it may (inadvertently or otherwise) make us look bad (8) _________________ if the boss or client is also in the email or chat group.

Many a time, the bully is single individual; however, there are cases where several people gang up on one person. (9) ________________ may isolate the person, play mind games and engage in a host of other unpleasantries. Hence, (10) _________________ is not something that is confined to schools alone.