Workplace harassment, also known as mobbingis a serious problem that can affect the well-being of employees and the productivity of the organization, here we explain its typology and how it can be detected.
In any company, situations of harassment at work can occur. (mobbing), which have an impact on the development of human talent and stress the organizational climatebelow, we explore the types of harassment and we offer some examples for early detection.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines workplace harassment in the book Promoting equality between women and men in the workplace: A matter of principle as:
"The verbal or psychological action of a systematic, repeated or persistent nature by which, in the workplace or in connection with work, a person or group of persons injures, humiliates, offends or intimidates a victim."
What types of harassment can exist in an office?
The Judicial Weekly of the Federation of the Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice classifies harassment in the workplace into three levels.
- Vertical downward harassment
It happens when a hierarchical superior exercises abuse of power over a subordinate. It includes humiliation, intentional overwork, constant unfounded criticism or threats.
- Upward vertical harassment
It happens when one or more persons harassing a superior in such a way as to cast doubt on their authority, discredit him and make it difficult for him to manage as a leader. of the equipment.
- Horizontal harassment
It occurs between collaborators of the same hierarchical level.
Forms in which workplace harassment can manifest itself
Harassment in an office can manifest itself in a variety of ways and we will explore how we can detect them.
- Social isolation
It happens when ignores or does not speak to another person. This also includes transferring one of the collaborators to an isolated site to carry out his activities away from the group. This can impact on the mental health of employeesbecause it causes the employee doubts his or her worth and capabilities.
- In organizational measures
As an example of this type of harassment, we have when the affected person is overworkedwhich is usually accompanied by unwarranted pressure or setting deadlines that are impossible to meet. In the same way, it happens when someone is assigned to a degrading jobor, which is of no use in the organization.
- Attacks on employees' privacy
It happens when there are criticisms of a person's intimate life. This can happen through messages, calls, e-mails, etc. and even in the daily interaction in conversations. This is also where the mockery of physical characteristics, imitation of gestures, and the and the disqualifications by the the way someone dresses or fixes.
- Verbal aggressions
They cover the insults, cries, verbal threats and the constant and unsubstantiated criticism of the work of other people.
- Psychological aggressions
They happen when a person is professionally belittled and when the work of two or more employees is evaluated unequally. It also happens when small errors in daily tasks are amplified and dramatized.
- Physical violence
It happens when words go beyond words and the Harassment escalates to something physical such as hitting, pulling or touching..
Harassment in the workplace has a negative impact on the performance of the affected persons and sometimes leads to absenteeism.. Likewise, it can lead to a declining health. The most common manifestations are stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, digestive problems and headaches.
For this reason, it is important to building safe and healthy workplaces. Learn how to identifying the different types of harassment and their signs will allow us to act in a preventive and corrective mannerThe purpose is to protect human talent and the organization.
Did you know all these ways in which bullying manifests itself in an office?
With information from CNDH, Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Labor Directorate of the Government of Chile
Text prepared by José Manuel Ríos
