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Mental health is a topic that people know very little about. It carries a taboo and a stigma. We engage in open discussions about the pandemic and various physical illnesses, but we often conceal our mental health issues. The fast and stress filled life that we lead today has led to a surge in health problems. Heart attacks, hypertension, and other diseases are on the rise. Chronic diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart problems all have stress as their root cause. This trend is especially clear among people aged 25 to 35. A recent study reveals that 74% of Indians suffer from stress and 88% struggle with anxiety disorders. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for open discussions on mental health and its causes.

Many factors contribute to stress, depression, and anxiety disorders. A troubled home, genetics, and loneliness are a few examples. Workplace harassment or bullying is another significant factor that affects our mental health. The professional world has become an environment characterized by intense competition and stress. In the rush to succeed, we often overlook the toll it takes on our health. Adding bullying and verbal abuse to the mix can be the final blow to our mental well-being.

Constant verbal abuse in a toxic work environment wears down our self-esteem. The victim's mind starts to believe, "I'm wrong" or "It's my fault; I'm inadequate." These negative thoughts, accumulated over time, can lead to depression and mental health issues.

I remember Tanya, a friend of mine. She was a bubbly, enthusiastic and ambitious 21-year-old when she started work. The work environment, unfortunately, was very different from what she had expected. Her manager would yell and criticize her, threatening termination. Her colleagues made fun of her, sniggering behind her back. As months passed, I saw her getting transformed into a moody, depressed girl. After three years of struggle, she finally gave up. Now she is fighting acute depression and has not been able to get back to work.

This is a classic case of workplace harassment. More than 50% of professionals across the country face this scenario in one form or the other. This aggressive behavior, can be either from our managers or our colleagues.

How to recognize harassment?

If your manager or co-workers are targeting you, you are not at fault. This is bullying or harassment. Bullying is not a single incident but a pattern of behaviour that keeps occurring.

Bullies are aggressive people who have the basic need to cover their own inadequacies and failures by dominating and brash behaviour. They control others to deal with the stress and frustrations of their own job. It is a coping mechanism for them and a way to deal with any similar harassment in their past.

Most of the industries have high targets. The pressure and frustrations lead to a competitive work culture. Bad competition, with one employee cutting the other, gives rise to a poor work environment.

Bad management, headed by an overbearing and arrogant manager builds a toxic work culture. In such a work environment, people accept negative or bullying behaviour as 'the norm.’

The lack of clear policies and procedures further encourages the bully and makes them feel safe. The victim, has no idea what to do and where to go to get relief from the plight.

The competitive job market gives rise to insecurities. It is a ‘dog eat dog’ world where the need to survive leads to the weak getting trampled down.

At the office, people come together to work toward a common goal. As is often true, they tend to form groups. These groups formed, based on ethnicity, language and region creates barriers excluding those from a different background.

Studies show a link between workplace bullying and mental health, even suicide. These national-level studies involved 10,259 participants, and the results were alarming. 10.04% reported experiencing abuse from workplace harassment, and 184 had suicidal thoughts. A total of 145 people had attempted suicide at least once, and authorities reported 35 suicide cases. 63.6% of the participants were women, which is a significant proportion.

It is crucial that we acknowledge the reality of this situation. Do not blame yourself, and instead, focus on finding ways to cope and get relief. While our financial responsibilities may force us to continue working in a toxic environment, it is essential to prioritize our well-being.

How to deal with workplace harassment?

The very first step is to try and preserve evidence to prove that you are being harassed.Try to keep a recording of all phone calls and save all messages. You can take the help of a friend or someone you trust at the office. It is very important to create a trail of evidence substantiating your claim.

Steps the victim can take:

  1. Report the harassment to higher management.
  2. If no action is taken, complain to HR.
  3. If the complaint is not investigated, file a written complaint to the ICC.
  4. In severe cases, individuals can also file a civil suit.

Different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) address such inhuman behaviour in the workplace. Section 503 addresses intimidation; and section 504 deals with intentional insult.

Helpline and legal aid:

The Human Rights Law Network runs ‘Madhyam’ a helpline service which also provides legal aid. The numbers to contact them are:

(011) 24316922 / 2432450

Safeguards against workplace bullying

The Industrial Employment (Standing Order) of 1946 forbids the harassment of employees. Organizations must create a strict code of conduct to protect employees from intimidation, harassment, or excessive pressure. If an employee complains, the organization must investigate and act. HR's main role is to check the workplace and prevent a toxic culture from developing.

The Actual Scenario

Despite these safeguards, it is astonishing that the statistics on bullying have not decreased. Out of 70% of employees who face harassment at work, only 1% report it. Why?

We are aware of the steps we can take to safeguard ourselves in the company. But still, we suffer on in silence or take the shortcut and leave the organization. If analysed, there are several factors at work here.

  • A common detriment is fear of repercussions if reporting a supervisor to the senior manager. The complaint is not taken seriously, and questions are raised about our behaviour.
  • The HR does not take an unbiased view and investigate the complaint. Is it surprising that 55% of HR professionals have no idea if their organization has a workplace violence prevention program?

Some suggestions to stop workplace bullying

The evidence shows that a toxic work environment harms both the organization and its employees. Hence, it is imperative to take steps to end it.

  • The employees need education on their rights and how to prevent all forms of harassment.
  • Top-down approach: The managers and team leads should lead by example. They should model respectful behaviour and take a stand against harassment of all kinds.
  • A confidential reporting mechanism, like hotlines and suggestion boxes, would help to curb bullying.

The HR must investigate any complaint without delay and ensure fairness throughout the process. It must discipline those found guilty, regardless of rank or seniority.

A call to action

Sometimes, raising a complaint is not enough. You might succeed in getting a fair hearing and a solution. But the trauma caused by the events does not disappear. It is there in our mind, and if not addressed, it will fester, and create mental problems. You need to talk and get it all out of your system. If you have a friend or a family member who will listen you to without being judgmental, that is the best. If not, a counsellor is a good option. Talking to a counsellor, online or in person, gives you a non-judgmental perspective to your trauma and, some practical suggestions to deal with it. There are so many online and free counselling services. Do not hesitate to take help.

Some Online Counselling Numbers

  • For free counselling for depression and anxiety, you can try 91+9999666555
  • There are some online centres providing free counselling services. A few of them are YourDOST, iCALL and AASRA.
  • The suicide helpline is 78930-78930 and 9999666555

If you see any friend or co-worker suffer, try to assist as much as you can and prevent a crisis from developing.

Creating a healthy work environment is always a joint effort by the management, HR, and employees. The office or workplace is a social environment. A certain amount of familiarity and good-natured gossip is to be expected. However, when this is targeted at one person and is repetitive, it causes severe stress and humiliation. For most of us, our office is like a second home where we are spending more than 8 to 9 hours a day. It is very important that we respect each other’s differences and have empathy for others’ problems. Working together and helping each other out in difficult scenarios creates a bond. A positive work environment can go a long way to get the best out of us.

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