How to Handle the Workplace Bully

The bully in the workplace – it’s something we never assume will happen. In fact, most of us believe we left the bullies behind in elementary school. But bullying behavior can pop up in unexpected places, whether the bully realizes the impact they are having or not.

Virtual PBX solution provider, Nextiva recently shared a blog post about how to reform the bullying employee. The blog pointed out that most people don’t set out to be bullies. The individual doing the bullying is often unaware of the impact he or she is having on others. Regardless, the business owner or manager must diffuse the situation and reform the bully.

For the best results, Nextiva offers a few steps. The first thing the manager should do is to calm down, especially in the heat of the moment. It’s difficult to set the example when emotions are running high. Once in the right frame of mind, he or she can talk to the bully. It’s important to schedule a sit-down meeting as soon as possible to talk in private about the problem.

In this conversation, it’s important to give concrete examples of things the manager has personally seen and not just hearsay from others. Building out a sample script before the conversation could help guide the exchange. Once the case has been stated, the employee should be allowed to respond and ask questions.

At that point, the manager and the bully employee have an opportunity to create an improvement plan together. The plan should include concrete tasks for the employee to complete, as well as directives on how he or she should treat others on the workforce. The employee and the manager need to be in agreement on the plan before the meeting ends. This plan should include time benchmarks for follow-up and opportunities to touch base and evaluate progress.

The plan and everything that led to its creation should be documented. If the employee fails to follow the plan and must later be terminated due to bullying behavior, the information captured may be needed if a retaliatory legal action is taken.

Determining the best way to deal with a bullying employee is important for any manager or business owner as companies must ensure a safe and satisfactory environment for all employees. Part of this environment includes access to the virtual PBX and the capabilities of a next generation phone system. Whether it’s easy access to voicemail, the ability to integrate call recording or simply access to an auto attendant, today’s employees need innovative tools to drive efficient operation.