Another Victim of the Recession - The Bullied Employee

I read an article recently about the increasing problem with harassment in the workplace due to the recession.

As the unemployment rate skyrockets, it seems that workers that still have their jobs are putting up with bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace for fear that filing a complaint could mean a potential loss of their job.

The bullying and harassment, more often than not, seems to be coming from supervisors, who know that employees have fewer options if they choose to quit rather than put up with the unpleasant situation.

Employers and supervisors seem to have the upper hand, or do they?

Employers fail to realize that harassment of their employees leads to lower productivity, loss of revenue, and morale problems within the workplace.

What can an employee do if he/she feels that he/she is being subjected to hostile environment?

From the linked article:
-- Try to get sick leave time. Often workplace bullying goes on for a long time, and can even cause stress disorders for targets.
-- Build an economic case against the bully. Has there been high turnover or absenteeism? Is there low morale? Has productivity sagged due to a tense, inefficient atmosphere?
"You have to make the argument that the bully's too expensive to keep," Namie said. Take this case to the highest-level person in your company that doesn't have a personal connection to the source of harassment.
-- If you can, look for another job. Getting away from the bully might be the easiest way to resolve the problem.
-- Look in your local yellow pages or online for an attorney who specializes in employment law.