Workplace Bullying Primer: What It Is and How to Manage It

Workplace bullying has always existed, but according to one prominent Canadian researcher, its prevalence and impact have increased dramatically since the 1990s. The high-profile case of the CBC and former star radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who was recently fired following allegations of sexual abuse, may be a tipping point in encouraging targets of abuse of any form to come forward.

This briefing provides an introduction to workplace bullying. It presents the costs and business case for taking workplace bullying seriously; and provides an overview of the issue, including a working definition of workplace bullying, types of bullying, how bullying is experienced and can manifest in the workplace, and the key actors. It examines prevalence and root causes and how workplace bullying is treated by legislation across Canada. The briefing concludes by offering businesses and organizations some foundational tools for beginning to address workplace bullying in a more proactive manner.