Speaking up against workplace bullying a delicate matter

Mr Simon Khoo Kim San's suggestion that there should be clear guidelines on what constitutes bullying is worth considering ("Don't close an eye to bullying at the workplace"; Oct 3).

Unless you have valid reasons to believe that you have been bullied in the workplace, it is better not to speak up too soon.

Employees who feel that they are bullied sometimes make oral or written complaints, which are misconstrued and hurt them later.

Alas, there are genuine cases of bullying in which employees do not dare to fight back for fear of repercussions; in short, they do not want to get into trouble with their superiors.

It can be difficult for an employee to defend himself against bullying, but when push comes to shove, standing up against it can go a long way.

Workers who can no longer stand repeated incidents of being victimised may seek assistance from the Manpower Ministry, or their unions if they are members.

Undeniably, the ill effects of bullying are declining staff morale, high turnover and low productivity, which, if left unchecked, can have dire consequences for the business environment.

Jeffrey Law Lee Beng

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