What exactly is bossing?
Unfair and hurtful behavior is often referred to as bullying and has strong connotations with the educational environment. However, such behaviors do not only occur between school children and young people – employees can also encounter them in professional life. If the bullying comes from a hierarchically higher person, this is referred to as “bossing”. Employees are systematically isolated and intimidated, so that they often throw in the towel themselves and terminate the employment relationship on their own. The motives for bossing are diverse. However, the employment contract or the position of the bully himself plays a major role. If he enjoys special protection against dismissal, for example, he is more likely to let the harassment run free. Other motives include antipathy, envy and resentment, but also insecurity and competitive behavior as well as the attempt to distract from one’s own mistakes. Bossing can also occur in the context of downsizing in order to induce employees who cannot normally be fired to leave the company.
This is how employees can recognize bossing
Small incidents often occur at the beginning of bossing, which may seem strange to employees, but cannot be clearly identified as bossing. However, the secret intrigues can quickly develop into open attacks and even escalate into insults. This is often due to the boss’s own insecurity. If an employee appears competent and self-confident, this can be perceived as a threat by less self-confident people. As a compensation for the existing or imagined inferiority, the systematic disadvantage of the employee serves.
Signs of bossing are missing invitations to meetings and the general withholding of important information. In addition, real conversations between employees and managers no longer take place; instead, accusations are made of having worked incorrectly. Employees who are subjected to bossing are often subjected to increased scrutiny and assigned to meaningless activities while important projects are taken away from them. In addition, it can happen that their workload is increased until it can no longer be completed in the agreed time. If, in addition to the supervisor, colleagues also become harsh and insulting, this is often due to deliberately placed rumors that were spread in order to harm those affected.
If the harassment is carried out systematically, repeatedly and over a longer period of time by a person higher in the hierarchy, it is bossing.
What are the consequences of bossing?
The consequences of bossing for victims include both psychological and physical symptoms. Bossing victims often feel depressed, sad and are particularly irritable. Feelings of inner restlessness, self-criticism and insomnia can develop into depression, which in particularly bad cases can even lead to suicidal thoughts. The psychological symptoms are often reflected in physical complaints. These include stress-related gastrointestinal complaints, muscle twitching and headaches.
How workers can respond to bossing
Possible misunderstandings can be cleared up in a one-on-one meeting, so employees should communicate their feelings openly. The subjective feelings of both parties should be taken seriously and discussed. References to concrete situations and events are helpful.
If discussions do not help, the HR department, the works council or the management should be informed. However, before further departments are informed, solid evidence should be collected that can prove the bossing. This includes e-mails, photos or witness statements.
Tip: Keeping a bossing diary can be helpful in identifying bosses’ bullying behavior.
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