Bullying in the workplace…bullying doesn’t stop after high school

An interesting concept that I have come across in recent years with clients and other professionals in the field is that bullying does not stop the day you graduate high school.  Intimidation, relational aggression, manipulation, and insults (forms of bullying), continue into adulthood in the workplace.  Unfortunately, you would think people would have learned “the golden rule” at this point developmentally, but they haven’t.  A useful resource to determine if you are experiencing workplace bullying is from the Workplace Bullying Institute’s website: http://www.workplacebullying.org/individuals/problem/early-signs/

A recent email that I received as an adjunct professor at Adler School of Professional Psychology sparked my motivation to discuss this topic. The seminar is offered through NIEAPA.  Per information shared in this email, it states:

“Judy Skorek is speaking on “Workplace Bullying” at the Northern Illinois Chapter meeting of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association on April 11.  The presentation is at Mesirow Financial, only a few blocks from Adler.  For non-members the fee is $40 fee and you can earn 1.5 CEU’s are available for LCPC, LCSW, and LMFT (but not psychologists).”

The link to sign up is:

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e8no7rvebc80f3a4&llr=quju67n6

The course description and presenters are as follows (per email):

“Workplace Bullying”

Workplace Bullying:  What is it? How can we help?

This workshop will address identifying and defining workplace bullying, understanding the impact, and developing ways to address and prevent it. The work of an EAP counselor can be very isolating. It seems that we have few opportunities to share our experiences and knowledge with other helping professionals. Enhance your current counseling toolbox by joining us and your colleagues to share ideas and interventions.

Dr. Kathy Bonnar, Asst. Professor Counselor Education, Div. Concordia University Chicago &

Dr. Judy Skorek from the Adler School of Professional Psychology