Bullying Doesn’t End in Childhood: Building Respectful Workplaces

What to do when bullying happens—and how coworkers and business leaders can help.

Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, including at work. Yet bullying can happen in offices, businesses, volunteer organizations, and online professional spaces.

At the Center for Suicide Awareness, we believe respectful workplaces begin with listening, connection, and taking concerns seriously.

What can workplace bullying look like?

Workplace bullying often involves a pattern of behavior that intimidates, humiliates, undermines, or isolates someone. Examples include:

• Repeated insults, ridicule, or public humiliation.
• Spreading malicious rumors.
• Deliberately withholding information someone needs to do their job.
• Repeatedly excluding someone from necessary work conversations.
• Threatening or intimidating behavior.

Respectful feedback, reasonable deadlines, and fair performance management are part of working life. The concern is how people are treated and whether behavior becomes demeaning, threatening, or deliberately undermining.

Cyberbullying happens to adults, too

Workplace bullying can follow someone through email, messaging apps, video meetings, and social media.

It may include threatening messages, humiliating posts, sharing private information, or using digital channels to repeatedly target someone.

If this happens, avoid responding in anger. Preserve relevant messages, dates, usernames, and screenshots. Report abusive content through the platform and use your organization’s reporting process when it involves work. Ask IT or a designated workplace contact for help with account security or blocking unwanted contact when needed.

What to do if you’re being bullied

Document specific incidents. Record dates, what happened, who was present, and how the behavior affected your work. Keep relevant communications while following workplace privacy and information-security rules.

Review your reporting options. Check your employee handbook or workplace policies. Depending on your organization, you might contact a supervisor, human resources, a union representative, or an owner. If your supervisor is involved, look for an alternative reporting contact.

Set a boundary if it feels safe. You might say, “I’m willing to discuss the work. I need this conversation to remain respectful.” You do not have to confront someone before asking for help.

Seek support. A trusted person, counselor, or Employee Assistance Program can help you talk through what is happening and consider next steps.

How coworkers can help

A private check-in can open the door:

“I noticed what happened. Are you okay? Would you like support?”

Listen without dismissing the experience or spreading the story. If you witnessed an incident, offer to provide a factual account through the appropriate reporting process.

When safe, help redirect a disrespectful conversation: “Let’s keep the feedback focused on the work.”

Supporting someone does not require taking over. Ask what would help, and respect their choices.

What business owners and leaders can do

A written policy matters, but employees also need to see respectful behavior modeled every day.

Businesses should clearly explain unacceptable conduct, provide reporting options outside an employee’s direct supervisor, and make clear that retaliation for raising concerns is unacceptable.

When someone reports a concern:

• Listen without jumping to conclusions.
• Explain the next steps and the limits of confidentiality.
• Arrange a fair review by someone who can remain impartial.
• Follow up after action is taken.
• Check whether the behavior has stopped and whether further support is needed.

Review policies and training when a complaint reveals gaps. Offering support should accompany efforts to address the behavior.

Respect belongs in every workplace

No job title, performance record, or business success makes humiliating others acceptable.

We can build healthier workplaces by listening carefully, speaking respectfully, and responding when someone asks for help.

More Connection. Less Isolation.™

If workplace stress or bullying is weighing on you, emotional support is available.

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