5 Types of Verbal Abuse in the Workplace

     According to National Centre Against Bullying, verbal bullying includes names calling, insults, teasing, racist remarks, and verbal abuse. Initially, verbal abuse may start with a joke. People think it won’t do any harm. However, if verbal abuse is done continuously, it will cause a negative effect on the victim. Even worse, the victim will be depressed and lead to suicide.

     Verbal abuse may occur in every society, for example in the workplace. The California Employment Counsel mentioned that over 40% of verbal abuse in a workplace is conducted by the superior. So, it is not a surprise that employer reaction when they got abused is weak.

     Here the 5 types of verbal abuse in the workplace that you should be aware of: 

1. Underestimating the employees

     Underestimating the employees are still common in the workplace. Instead, many employees suffer silently when their colleagues or superiors underestimate them. They may feel uncomfortable at work. Moreover, they don’t know who to tell to. It is advisable for any companies to provide media communication among employees. So, they can tell their problem, also take action against the subject who frequently underestimate others.

2. Spreading gossip

     For some people, gossip refers to malicious talk about someone, that usually involves untrue tales. But others think it can include truthful remarks. In the workplace, an employee may spread false rumors about his/her colleague to others. This will make some negative consequences such as lost productivity, increase anxiety among employees, divisiveness among employees, and hurt feelings. 

3. Criticized for no apparent reason

     A leader who criticizes the employee’s performance in terms of constructive goals is a positive thing. But it is different when the leader has a certain grudge or dislikes their employees. They may criticize employees for no apparent reason. They continuously criticize even if the employee has done their job properly.

4. Threatening the employees

     Threatening employees is also a type of verbal abuse. For example, threats of dismissal, demotion, or other actions to intimidating. The purpose of threatening is to control the behavior of the victim.

5. Blaming for something they didn’t do

     Some colleagues or superiors who didn’t like their other colleagues might always find his/her fault. Moreover, they could blame something on that person even it was not his/her responsibility. It can make the victim uncomfortable while working at the office. Even worse, it will make the victim resign from the company.