Signs of workplace violence

CrossCurrents

Workplace violence and harassment experts identify the following behaviours that constitute lateral violence in the workplace:

• aggressive or mocking body language such as raising eyebrows or making faces
• verbal retorts, abrupt responses, vulgar language
• undermining behaviour such as ignoring questions, constantly criticizing or excluding individuals from discussion
• withholding needed information or advice
• sabotage such as setting up a new hire for failure
• infighting and bickering
• scapegoating
• blaming and gossiping behind a colleague's back
• failure to respect privacy, and broken confidences
• shouting, yelling or other intimidating behaviour
• judging others on age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or size
• physical violence
  

• Print