Per a New York Times report, women are primarily bullied by other women rather than by men in U.S. workplaces. In total, 60 percent of bullies in U.S. workplaces are men, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI), a national advocacy group. But they tend to target both sexes equally, whereas their female counterparts choose other women as their targets over 70 percent of the time.
Female bullying looks more horrendous because after the recession hit male-dominated industries, working women are now more numerous than working men, including more than 50 percent of women in management positions.
Bullying is a learned behavior that gets fine-tuned during our school years. Girls and women tend to bully using more subtle and nuanced types of tactics that are relationship-based, as opposed to male bullying, which is more outwardly aggressive. But whatever it looks like, if you have female-to-female bullying at your workplace, you have a problem on your hands.
Bullying by women just looks somewhat different than it does with men. So it’s important to understand how to recognize—and stop—it. Such workplaces may actually increase pressures on your women employees, as with so many now going after top jobs, yet a variety of discriminatory practices still preventing most from acquiring them, then it is logical for women to perceive female coworkers as competitors rather than as possible allies.
Register for this pre-recorded webinar, presented by our workplace harassment expert and speaker, as she explains workplace bullying, talks about what causes it and explores how bullying affects business.
This webinar is designed to help you know exactly what bullying is, how and why women do it, and what to do if you become a target. You’ll understand what type of bullying could constitute illegal harassment and what role management should play to prevent the behavior.
Please note, bullying could be ripping your office apart and exposing you to lawsuits. Find out what you can do about it today.