Employers rely on bullies. Bullies push innovation, motivate co-workers and generate business. However, bullying in the workplace creates risks, and employers are facing new liabilities for failing to address bullying.
Bullying is prevalent and comes from all directions. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, an estimated 27% of Americans report experiencing abusive conduct at work, and 72% report being aware of workplace bullying. Similarly, a survey commissioned by CareerBuilder of full-time employed private sector employees indicated that 28% of employees reported having experienced or were currently experiencing bullying in the workplace.