“ “When A Bad Apple Sours the School” Dr. Kathleen Sciarappa April 10, Workplace Bullying NAESP Houston
2 Today’s Session: Adults, not students
Essential Questions 3 What is the prevalence of workplace bullying? Who are the bullies and targets? What is the impact on: targets onlookers workplace supervisors bullies If it’s not illegal, what can be done?
Fact or Fantasy? Introductions 4 To what degree has bullying impacted your school’s culture? Rating Scale 0 (not at all) 10 (highest possible impact) (low) 0...1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8...9…10 (high)
Who, Does What, to Whom? Match % with “direction” of bullying 72% bottom up 10% boss-employee 18% peer-peer 5
Who, Does What, to Whom? 72% Boss 18% Peers 10% Subordinate to superior Are you a bully? 6
“Only the best are bullied.” 7 Partner Work Superior, subordinate, colleague: Discuss your situation
Finding the Words 8 Workplace terror Harassment Mobbing Workplace mistreatment Emotional abuse Workplace aggression Incivility Hostile behavior Workplace trauma Healthy workplace
How Prevalent? In your corners, please! What % of adults have been bullied at work or witnessed it? A) 17% B) 92% C) 49% D) 3% 9
Hard to Spot 10 The International Labor Organization Spousal abuse Sexual harassment Challelle & DiMartina, 2006; Davenport, et al. 1999
Dr. Gary Namie Dr. Ruth Namie The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) website Workplace Bullying 11
Looks like? Sound like? 12 gossip /rumors isolating socially intimidating undermining threatening withholding information offensive jokes verbally/ intruding on privacy tampering with personal possessions belittling opinions ostracism Davenport et al., 1999; Leymann, 1990; Namie & Namie, 2000; Williams, 2008
Who and Why? 13 The grown up schoolyard bullies/mean girls Family of origin issues Psychological issues
Bullying Styles Model for us! 14
Targets and Mobbing 15 Jackson et al. 2002; Hutchison et al, 2006
16 “Healthy Workplace" David Yamada
There ought to be a law… 17 European countries…yes Canada…yes Australia…yes United States…no 3/22/10 Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Oklahoma, Kansas, Utah, Connecticut (plus 5 = 16 states) March 18 Illinois Healthy Workplace Bill Passed the Senate (35/17) Sioux City Iowa: First school district “Bullies thrive wherever authority is weak.”
Civil Rights of gender sexual orientation race color nationality ancestry ethnic origin religion physical disability handicapping conditions medical conditions physical appearance marital status veteran status education
Lack of Response 19 Underreporting; Unaware; Without policies, regulations and laws; Misapply conflict resolution strategies; Employers themselves are bullied; The bully appears to be a high performer; Targets lack reporting strategies.
Costs Health Psychological Economic Talent flight 20
7 th International Workplace Bullying Conference Montreal, Canada 2008; Cardiff, Wales
What Doesn’t Work? Appeasing the bully Blaming both parties Labeling the target as a complainer Listening to an orchestrated group Ignoring 22
What Works? Name the most effective strategies… Discussions with colleagues Addressing incidences Sharing articles/information Writing an opinion piece Contacting your representatives Creating or endorsing legislation/district policy 23
More What Works 24 Name it and document it! Expose the bully (s) Check physical and mental health. Raise awareness of workplace bullying. Respond to reports Resource: The Eight Tactics for Explaining Workplace Abuse to Decision Makers (Tracy, Alberts, Rivera 2007)
Partner Work What can be done immediately? What long term measures are needed? Short term…Long term 25
Our Plans Now Long term 26
Enduring Understandings 27 Workplace bullying is common, destructive, and misunderstood. Bullying has negative consequences for all parties except the bully. The U.S. is not keeping pace with legal sanctions. Workplace policies and legislation are needed.
Reflections 28
Go Home and Take Action 29
Thanks for coming. Enjoy the conference! Kathleen Evaluation! 30