Have pandemic managers been ’bullies’ or just getting things done?

Have pandemic managers been ’bullies’ or just getting things done?

The Workplace Wellbeing Census of 4,000 UK employees found that 26% believed they had been bullied over the past three years. That’s up from 14% in 2019.

The sectors with the highest levels of bullying, according to the Bupa/YouGov survey, are transport, education and retail. Employees aged over 45 are most likely to report having been bullied (17%), compared with just 7% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

Why be a bully?

Researchers suggest the most likely cause for the sharp increases has been the move to digital working practices, the kinds of changes that can be questioned or resisted by older employees. They also point to conflict resulting from decisions over which staff were furloughed and how workloads and responsibilities were being redistributed.

Bupa UK has stressed the need for awareness of the range of problems facing staff in post-pandemic conditions, and the increased potential for miscommunication and misinterpretation.

“Employers have the same duty of care for their workers whether they’re in the office or at home,” said Mark Allan, Commercial Director at Bupa UK Insurance. “Therefore creating a culture where employees feel able to speak up if they experience any problems, is absolutely key.”

Opening up

“There’s a thin line between managers who are bullying, who are being unreasonable in their demands, inappropriate in their manner and behaviour, and just those managers under severe pressure doing their best to introduce unpopular change,” says EAPA UK chair Eugene Farrell.

“So it’s often an issue of perception. What tends to matter most is how staff feel about themselves and their relationship with their boss and other people around them. If they feel confident in their situation generally; if they have a sense of psychological safety and can trust their manager and colleagues, then the sense of ‘bullying’ goes away.

“This is where access to an EAP helps in a number of ways. It’s an outlet for talking about workplace strains and relationships issues. It’s a way to help staff better cope with other issues that are affecting their state of mind and ability to deal with yet more change. Managers have the option to signpost their line reports towards more support and advice.”

Have pandemic managers been ’bullies’ or just getting things done? EAPA UK