Anti-Bullying Week 2020: United Against Bullying
ABA are official organisers of Anti-Bullying Week. Anti-Bullying Week 2020 will take place from Monday 16th November – Friday 20th November 2020. The theme is United Against Bullying.
Were you bullied as a child? Or are you being bullied at work?
We know there can be significant long term effects of experiencing bullying as a child. Bullying is a traumatic thing to experience and it in no-way makes you ‘weak’ to still be feeling the impact of it now. You may also be finding it hard to cope if you were the person who was bullying others. If you experienced bullying as a child, it was not your fault.
Workplace bullying and your emotional health
Workplace bullying can have a devastating impact on emotional health and your own self-worth but it’s not always easy to know where you can go for some support and a listening ear. It’s entirely understandable that you may not feel comfortable enough to find anyone within the workplace that you can confide in, especially if things are tense and difficult at work and you are having to face this every day.
It may not be easy to talk about the harrassment you are suffering at work, but we do know that sharing how you are feeling and confiding in someone that you trust can help to avoid emotions bubbling over into your personal life. It is inevitable that at some point the bullying at work will impact on your life at home. Talking with your partner or family might not be easy because you have such close emotional ties but think about how you would feel if your felt your partner was keeping something from you and how you would want to support them.
So what can you do to take control of your own emotional wellbeing and help you through these difficulties?
- A diary can be a great way of expressing how you are feeling and can also aid in ensuring you have a written account of what has been going on.
- Take some time out to think about how you are really feeling – many people feel scared, stressed, anxious and low in confidence. If you recognise any of these signs and feel it would help to take some time out from work then make an appointment to see your GP.
- Stress can have a devastating impact on emotional health and it might mean that taking a couple of weeks off work might help you to feel calmer.
- Don’t feel guilty or ashamed because you need some time out – workplace bullying is not acceptable and can have a debilitating effect on physical and emotional health. Ask your GP if there is any counselling you can access. See the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy to find a counsellor in your area.
- Check your insurance documents – some household insurance policies include a counselling helpline so this might be something you could look into.
- Join a bullying at work suppport forum where you can find others that are going through something similar. We have a forum dedicated to workplace bullying and it can be comforting to know that there are others out there going through something similar in a safe environment. You can share experiences and tips on what might have worked for you.
- Take control and get some legal advice on bullying at work from ACAS (Advisory Concilliation and Arbitration Service). They are there to give advice to both employees and employers. It’s important to find out exactly where you stand and what rights you have as this can be really empowering.
- Speak to a support service where you can talk your situation through with a trained support worker. Sometimes just a listening ear can help – you could call our free confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222 or chat to us live online or there is also the Samaritans
- Think about your options – are things so stressful that you feel you have to leave for the sake of your health, or do you feel that you are strong enough to fight this and are going to make a stand.
- Is it worth dipping your toe in the water and researching other job opportunities just to get a feel of what other jobs are out there.
Looking after yourself
These are all steps that you can take for yourself if you are being bullied at work. Some will be harder than others but it is crucial that you remind yourself how important it is for you to look after “you”. We know that stress can affect blood pressure so it’s always worthwhile arranging regular checkups with your GP to make sure you are staying healthy. Listen to what your body is telling you and don’t ignore any signs of bullying that might be telling you that your body might be struggling.
Finding a hobby or an exercise that will help you to relax can also be another great strategy of trying to ensure that you stay calm and healthy. Here’s a few ideas that might help:-
- Going for a swim before or after work might help to calm the brain and put you in a good frame of mind.
- A walk in the countryside or to the beach can also be another wonderful tonic.
- Meditation can be a great way of encouraging the mind to switch off and relax.
- Getting out on your bike with the family
- Tai Chi or yoga can also help to balance mind, body and soul.
- If you’re feeling more energetic perhaps you could try an exercise class or some martial arts.
It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to stay healthy and less stressed – there is plenty that you can do which involves no cost. You might not always feel like it but sometimes we do need to push ourselves to do things, the more you do it the more you will get used to it. In time you will probably miss your exercise and will realise what a great stress buster it has been for you.
More information
- Contact Family Lives on 0808 800 2222 or email them at askus@familylives.org.uk.
- ACAS – Bullying at Work Helpline advisers on 0300 123 1100 for free and impartial advice.
- Bullying UK – information about bullying at work .
Alternatively, you can use our Employee Assistance Programme through Care First.