This is wrong, and a temporary means to an end.
There is a name for this, "workplace mobbing", or "bullying", but the actions taken, and the consequences of these acts, are so diverse, inhumane, and serious, that no words can describe them. Yet I will continue to try.
Betsy Combier
Mobbing as human bullying behaviour
LINK
Mobbing in the context of human beings either means bullying of an individual by a group in any context, or specifically any workplace bullying.
Though the English word mob denotes a crowd, often in a destructive or hostile mood, German, Polish, Italian and several other European languages have adopted mobbing as a loanword to describe all forms of bullying including that by single persons. The resultant German verb mobben can also be used for physical attacks, calumny against teachers on the internet and intimidation by superiors, with an emphasis on the victims' continuous fear rather than the perpetrators' will to exclude them. The word may thus be a false friend in translation back into English, where mobbing in its primary sense denotes a disorderly gathering by a crowd and in workplace psychology narrowly refers to "ganging up" by others to harass and intimidate an individual.
Research into the phenomenon was pioneered in the 1980s by German-born Swedish scientist Heinz Leymann, who borrowed the term from animal behaviour due to it describing perfectly how a group can attack an individual based only on the negative covert communications from the group".
Mobbing is also found in school systems and this too was discovered by Dr. Heinz Leymann. Although he preferred the term bullying in the context of school children, some have come to regard mobbing as a form of group bullying. As professor and practising psychologist, Dr. Leymann also noted one of the side-effects of Mobbing is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is frequently misdiagnosed. After making this discovery he successfully treated thousands of mobbing victims at his clinic in Sweden.
In the book MOBBING: Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace, the authors say that mobbing is typically found in work environments that have poorly organized production and/or working methods and incapable or inattentive management and that mobbing victims are usually "exceptional individuals who demonstrated intelligence, competence, creativity, integrity, accomplishment and dedication".[4]
UK Anti-bully pioneers Andrea Adams and Tim Field used the expression workplace bullying instead of what Leymann called "mobbing" although workplace bullying nearly always involves mobbing in its other meaning of group bullying.
From the Mobbing-U.S.A. website:
MOBBING IS...
* EMOTIONAL ABUSE in the workplace.
* "Ganging up" by co-workers, subordinates or superiors, to force someone out of the workplace through rumor, innuendo, intimidation, humiliation, discrediting, and isolation.
* Malicious, nonsexual, nonracial, general harassment.
Other expressions for MOBBING are:
* Bullying
* Psychological terror or aggression
* Hostile behaviors at work
* Workplace trauma
* Incivility
* Emotional violence
We consider MOBBING an emotional injury that impacts a target's mental and physical health. MOBBING is a workplace safety and health issue.
Public Hearing! Speak Out & Act Now To Help Stop Abusive Bosses
February 27, 2010 — bullyinworkplace
Connecticut Public Hearing
“Bullying in the workplace makes it miserable for people to go to work. It causes stress-related physical problems. It causes emotional distress that could be disastrous. Bullying is everywhere and we need to stop it.”
- Senator Edith Prague, Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees
State Senator Edith Prague has re-introduced legislation [House Bill 5285] that would require the state to document Workplace Violence & Bullying experienced by public employees. The Labor and Public Employees Committee will hold a public hearing on this bill on Tuesday, March 2nd at 2PM in Hearing Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Like many other states, Connecticut responded to the rash of workplace homicides in the 90’s. In 1999 then Governor Rowland enacted an Executive Order which included: any employee who feels subjected to or witnesses violent, threatening, harassing, or intimidating behavior in the workplace immediately report the incident or statement to their supervisor, manager,or human resources office.
The 2007 Procedure Manual on Violence in the Workplace issued by Governor Rell’s office quotes the FBI indicators of Workplace Violence and includes: intimidation, belligerent, bullying or other inappropriate behavior directed at others
As the tragic Yale murder reminds us all it’s time for preventions already in place to be strengthened and enforced.
You Don’t Have To Be From Connecticut To Support This Legislation
Call or Email Governor Jodi Rell and let her know that you support 5285 and want legislation already on the books enforced and strengthened to stop psychological harassment, domestic violence in the workplace and all other types of Workplace Violence.
To Testify In Person
"For those persons wishing to testify, we ask that they sign up at noon in Room 3800 (Labor Committee office). We also need 50 copies of written testimony, to be submitted at the time of sign-up.” – Senator Prague’s office
[Sneak Peek] No Job Is Worth Losing The Precious Gift Of Life
February 10, 2010 — bullyinworkplace
“She just kept badgering her and backing her into a corner
and my sister just felt helpless”
YouTube Video
Highest Workplace Suicide Rate: “No Jodies Should Die”
The year that Jodie died marked the highest number of workplace suicides ever reported by the fatality census [USDOL Report] . A jump of nearly 30% over the year before and soon to be released numbers are expected to be even higher.
Unfortunately even the USDOL admits numerous incidents aren’t reported since their data does not reflect incidents that happened at home instead of on the jobsite. Their figures show the most vulnerable groups are males (94%), aged 45-54 (36%), and white (78%). [see stats]
If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide seek help immediately and contact your local crisis line or counseling center. Information and resources can also be found at: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org / American Foundation for Suicide Prevention / National Institute of Mental Health / Unsuicide Blogwith resource links
Suicide.org - Suicide Prevention, Awareness, and Support
Suicide.org: Prevention, Awareness, and Support
Posted in Workplace Bullycide.