Examples of Bullying Behavior

Remember: A single act does not constitute abusive conduct, unless especially severe and egregious.

Language or behavior that frightens, humiliates, belittles or degrades the recipient or target may be part of a pattern of workplace bullying. For example:

• Persistent or egregious use of abusive, insulting, or offensive language
• Aggressive yelling or shouting
• Unwarranted physical contact or threatening gestures
• Making repeated negative comments about a person’s appearance, lifestyle, family, or culture
• Regularly inappropriately teasing or making someone the brunt of pranks or practical jokes
• Circulating inappropriate or embarrassing photos or videos via email or social media

Behavior that undermines a person’s work performance, working relationships, or perceived value in the workplace may also be part of a pattern of bullying. For example:

• Unnecessarily interrupting or disrupting someone’s work; inappropriately interfering with a person’s personal property or work equipment
• Repeatedly discounting a person’s statements in group meetings; unfavorably comparing one person to others
• Blaming a person for problems they did not cause
• Taking credit for another’s contributions
• Spreading misinformation or malicious rumors
• Purposefully inappropriately excluding, isolating, or marginalizing a person from normal work activities

When the bully is a supervisor, the pattern may also include:

• Assigning tasks that are beyond a person’s skill level
• Establishing unrealistic timelines, or frequently changing deadlines
• Denying access to information, consultation, or resources
• Excessively monitoring an employee’s work
• Giving feedback in an insincere or disrespectful manner
• Repeatedly reminding someone of past errors or mistakes
• Inconsistently following or enforcing rules, to the detriment of an employee
• Ignoring an employee, or isolating them from others
• Denying equal access to earned time off