Who Is a Workplace Bully's Target?

Defend yourself against workplace bullying

 Share
 Pin
 Share
 Email

•••
BY SALLY KANE

Updated October 14, 2019

Bullying isn't confined to the schoolyard. It can occur between a boss and a
subordinate, or between co-workers. It's marked by ongoing harassment and ridicule,
often verbal but sometimes physical.

An estimated 60.3 million Americans have experienced workplace bullying, according to

a 2017 study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, one of the most recent comprehensive
research efforts available.

The targets of workplace bullies often share a good many traits, including appearance
and conduct.

They Make the Bully Feel Insecure

Bullies tend to target people who pose a threat to them. They're often smart, competent,
and self-assured. In fact, the most veteran and skilled person in the workgroup is often
a bully's target. Bullies often go after employees who are liked by their supervisors and
praised for their performances.

Competence translates to competition. Bullies will target these capable workers to make
them appear less valuable to the organization.
Bullies might feel that their targets' skilled competence throws a glaring spotlight on their
own inadequacies, compelling them to bring the individual down a notch, perhaps even
by sabotaging their work or spreading lies. Bullies want to elevate their own status
within the organization by pushing others down.

Bullies often have poor coping skills and tackle their insecurities by manipulating others
to raise their own perceived self-importance.

Those Who Seem Vulnerable

Bullies thrive on immediate power. They zero in on others who are vulnerable and who
they feel are unlikely to retaliate, confront, or report them. These victims tend to be
nonconfrontational, passive, submissive, meek, or quiet. They might be on the fringes of
or excluded from workplace cliques.

Bullies also tend to target those who are new to the workplace for this reason—
individuals who have not yet established supportive relationships with co-workers.

Bullies might target inexperienced or handicapped employees as well, including those

struggling with depression, stress, or anxiety disorders. They're often vulnerable
themselves, so bullying helps them conceal their own insecurities and create the
appearance that they're in control.

Caring, Social, and Collaborative Coworkers

Workplace bullies target those for whom collaboration, compromise, and team
building are second nature. These character traits are important elements of a healthy
work team, but they can also bring about bullying.

Employees who have a strong support network within the workplace, and who share
solid friendships and associations with others, are often targeted because bullies are
typically excluded from these inner circles. The bully might act out of resentment and
frustration.
Coworkers who are kind and who tend to avoid conflict might be targeted because they
appear weak and unwilling to fight back.

Fair, Honest, and Ethical Coworkers

Bullies often focus on employees who have strong morals and integrity. This is
especially the case when the bullies don't possess these traits themselves, or when
their victims' values conflict with their own.

Whistleblowers who expose fraudulent or unethical practices are often bully targets.

Men vs. Women

Women are bullied more frequently than men. The Workplace Bullying Institute survey
found that 70% of bullies were men, and that 65% of their targets were women.

The survey also revealed that women bullies target women 67% of the time.

Racial Minorities

Research findings from the Workplace Bullying Institute survey show that race can have
an effect on workplace bullying. Hispanics report the highest rates of bullying at 26%.
African-Americans are the second highest at 21%, and Asians experience the least: 7%.

Physical Traits and Age

You might find that you're a target if you look different or if you possess some physical
trait that markedly separates you from others. A victim of bullying might be very tall or
very short, might have a weight problem, a scar, or some facial feature that stands out.

Age can factor in as well. Employees who are markedly younger or older both report a
high level of bullying. Younger people, particularly those under 24, can seem
vulnerable, while older individuals are often mocked and spotlighted simply because of
their age—and yes, that Baby Boomer work ethic.

How to Defend Yourself

Some issues that might make you a target are easier to overcome than others. You
might not be able to change your appearance or your ethnicity, but consider speaking
up if you're being targeted because you're meek, quiet, or different.

Tell the bully—authoritatively—to stop. Let the bully know that you're not going to take it
anymore. Say, "I'm sorry. I wasn't finished yet," if you're interrupted in meetings. Ask
your coworkers to chime in and lend their support in telling the bully that this type of
behavior won't be tolerated.

Responding assertively might not elicit an immediate response, but it might at least
startle the bully and provide some food for thought. It could potentially ease the situation
over time.

Going to a Supervisor

You can consider going to a supervisor with the problem, but this doesn't always help if
you can't provide substantiated proof.

Keep a log of witnesses to the bully's behavior, including exactly what happened and
the dates and times when the bullying occurred.

Keep in mind that the supervisor might actually support the bully, or the bully might be
so valuable to the company that the supervisor doesn't want to rock the boat by
addressing the problem.