It is the silent epidemic that claims billions of dollars in revenue each year, but the biggest cost by far for a company that hires a bully is the trauma experienced by staff in the firing line.

Workplace experts say that if bullies are not dealt with appropriately, low productivity, absenteeism and even physical illness can eventually seep through into the company’s brand name, goodwill and bottom line.

While bad managers can come in many guises, bullies have one thing in common: they deliberately use repeated, continued behaviour that is designed to make a staff member feel bad, said conflict resolution consultant Joe Moore of Kimber Moore and Associates.

This is the legal definition of bullying used by the Occupational, Health and Safety Association (OHSA), Moore said. “It’s important to understand this as we tend to use the term loosely in everyday language. Bullying is intentional and harmful.”

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The Beyond Bullying Association in Australia estimates between 2.5 million and 5 million people experience some aspects of bullying at work.

via Beating Workplace Bullying.