There are a lot of differences between children and adults. We’re bigger, we’re faster and more confident, we can do more and we understand more, we’ve been around and we know how things are done. Most importantly we’ve grown up. Or at least, some of us have. The workplace and the schoolroom have striking similarities and it’s very easy for one to mimic the other. Do you remember when you got your first job in an office or similar? It was really difficult to break out of that engrained ‘school’ mentality. You have to stop yourself from asking to use the toilet or feeling really guilty for leaving a little early if you finish your work. It’s amazing how used to school we become in the time we’re there and some people never really leave it behind them at all.
Some people need to show dominance in their lives. There are all kinds of people who need to be the best, that drive to succeed isn’t always a bad thing if the person has the talent to back it up. In some cases, the talent isn’t there or the person in question is dealing with outside factors we don’t see, regardless that person winds up being an office bully. There isn’t one in every office, it’s not something you’d expect to see as often as you would at school but it’s not difficult to imagine a person in a position of power abusing that power.
Bullying has a profound emotional effect on everyone who’s around it. Obviously the person being bullied is the worst off but even those who witness it can be affected. It’s always advisable to speak to someone more senior under these circumstances, there’s no job or workplace where such behaviour is acceptable and as such something should be done to stamp it out as soon as possible!
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