I received this question from a recent webinar attendee:
“I have been told by a Human Resources Director that workplace bullying is not called bullying but a different term, but I can’t recall it. Do you know the term?”
Some organizations prefer to use more neutral terms and are shy to give workplace bullying such a direct identifier. I can understand this but I must also note that this doesn’t help prevent and address the issue when you water it down using less impactful terminology.
In many organizations, bullying falls into the broader language of a Workplace Respect Policy that stipulates what is unacceptable workplace behavior. With that in mind, I’ve seen organizations call it “workplace disrespect”, “unacceptable workplace behavior”, “workplace harassment”, and “rudeness”.
What is it called in your organization?
