TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Workplace bullying is more common than people might think. A survey from a Taiwanese local job bank, published on Aug. 29, found that over 80% of workers have experienced workplace bullying.
However, out of those who felt bullied, over 60% chose not to speak up. The average time they stay quiet is 20.5 months, which is nearly two years.
Furthermore, according to the survey, 15% more women than men said they were bullied at work.
The most prevalent types of workplace bullying include verbal harassment, social mistreatment, unreasonable work demands, and inadequate support.
Nevertheless, only a small percentage of individuals are willing to stand up for themselves. Only 16.4% of people would report their experience through the company's official channels.
“Smaller companies typically lack a formal HR system to manage incidents of bullying and related procedures,” Tseng Chung-wei, a public relations manager at a local job bank, said.
Moreover, 60% of people would choose to support their bullied coworkers, while the rest would not, fearing that they might also become targets or believing it is not their concern.
The survey also shows that 67% of workers stated that the trauma of being bullied impacts their future job search. Many of them would seek independent work to avoid coworker interactions. Some would explore jobs in entirely different industries, and some, unwilling to reenter the workplace, opt for unemployment.
If you encounter workplace bullying, experts advise that you can also terminate your labor contract under Article 14 of the Labor Standards Act to exit the job as soon as possible.
