The Bully at Work: What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job
Author: Gary Namie, Ruth Namie Ph.D
List Price: $14.95
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ISBN: 1570715343
Publisher: Sourcebooks Trade (April, 2000)
Sales Rank: 5,143
Average Customer Rating: 4.77 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Insightful!
While much has been written on the topic of workplace violence, much less attention is paid to a more widespread problem - workplace bullying. Gary and Ruth Namie claim that one in five workers in the U.S. have been targeted by a bullying colleague or, more commonly, a bullying boss. The authors flesh out this claim in The Bully at Work by describing the prevalence of workplace bullying and the corrosive effects that such behavior has upon its targets. But the real value in this book comes from the detailed advice it provides to bullying victims. The Namies tell victims how to cope with the stress and other psychological wounds that bullying can cause, and then unveil a step-by-step action plan. This plan stretches from initial internal measures that victims can take to defend themselves to - employers take careful note - legal recourse. This eminently useful guide elevates the book beyond the reach of self-empowerment literature and into the realm of practical knowledge. As such, we [...] recommend this book to any employee who has been bruised by a workplace bully, and to managers who are - like it or not - responsible for spotting and eliminating bullying behavior.
Rating: 5 out of 5
You¿re NOT Crazy---This Book Tells You What To DO
I suffered an incident of bullying at work for the past two years. In my case, I got things successfully resolved when one bully left of his own accord, and the other bully was stopped by senior management (I was fired, and senior management rehired me when I went over the bully's head). According to this book, this happens in only seven percent of cases. I feel very lucky. In my case, the only piece of the puzzle that was missing was WHY this happened to me, and this book really helped clarify that for me and bring the whole incident to closure.I just found this book and read it, and if I had had it during the time all of this was going on, it would have helped me immensely. I experienced all of the behaviors described in this book, and I think the reasons given for the behavior are right on the mark. When my e-mail friends suggested the same reasons (before I read this book), I found them so far-fetched (such as perhaps I was making the bullies look bad through my competence-I said to myself, "They are professional people; surely they are self-confident about their own work.")
This book looks at reasons for bullying, and who become targets for bullying behavior (how and why those targets are chosen). It discusses bullying in other European countries, as well as South Africa, and what progress legally has been made against passing laws against bullying in the workplace. These laws are compared with the legal progress/standing of the target in the United States. The book discusses health ramifications on the target, and all possible actions that can and should or should not be taken personally, and in the workplace.
If I had read this book MUCH sooner (such as when the bullying FIRST started), it would have helped me emotionally. I would have realized MUCH sooner what was happening, and known that I wasn't crazy. I could have fought back sooner, and would have known how, and which strategies to use. I also would have kept detailed records of each bullying incident, and I would have gotten witnesses' statements. In short, if you are even questioning yourself about whether bullying is happening to you, or not, BUY THIS BOOK.
Rating: 2 out of 5
Policy over Practical
The book begins very slowly and really does not offer significant information until the last few chapters (mostly the very last chapter). The authors, throughout the entire novel, have a bitter attitude towards business in general and seem to be blaming capitalism for the problems surrounding bullying. They have several interesting points throughout the novel, but unfortunately, it is mired down by a slightly veiled political agenda against "big business". I would like to have seen more about the practical methods an individual can undertake to control bullying rather than the overhanded solution to engage in legal discourse. I would have also liked to have seen more specific case studies. The authors mention many times of having their web site with hundreds of stories on bullying. Where are they? I would like to have seen more. Keep the politics out of the issue. It is serious enough of a problem without smacking of a hidden agenda against business.
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