Bullying isn’t an issue simply confined to the playgrounds and school halls anymore.
Valerie Cade, an author, public speaker and expert on workplace bullying, will be in town this Friday for a morning presentation on workplace bullying.
Research has shown that one in four people will report being bullied at work at some point in their career, Cade explained. Workplace bullying can include everything from being left out of important information loops; to being subjected to verbal abuse, including criticism, blame or being ignored; and working with a boss who is unwilling to communicate, cooperate or connect with his or her employee on a normal interpersonal exchange.
“Sometimes people just move on and get past it,” she said. “Or they stay and stick it out and it bothers them. I’d say five per cent of the population will suffer greatly.”
Often when an employee tells their boss they are being bullied, the boss will frequently deny there is a problem, Cade said.
“That’s probably the top thing is when people deny somebody’s reality,” she said, noting the bullied employee will often blame themselves, put the responsibility on themselves by trying harder, and will eventually get worn down because of a loss of confidence.
Cade used to teach conflict resolution to doctors and nurses in the United States, but discovered she needed to take a different approach.
“Once I studied that I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I call bullying.’ And there was hardly anything written on it,” she said. “So there was research but not many people speaking and implementing solutions that worked.”
In 2007, Cade released Bully Free at Work – a 260-page “how-to” guide to dealing with bullying in the workplace. Bully Free at Work was re-released this year.
Cade’s Nov. 18 presentation, which is being co-sponsored by the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce and Town of Innisfail, will include sessions on bullying awareness and inspiration as well as a “how-to” discussion. It runs from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Innisfail United Church hall.
Cade’s current tour has taken her throughout Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Virginia.
In addition to Cade’s remarks, Innisfail RCMP Const. Rick Buisseret will also be on hand to talk about bullying in schools and its implications.
Chamber executive director Jane Duncalfe encouraged “anyone and everyone” to attend.
“Employees, employers, students, teachers, people in the health industry, people in social work – it affects everybody,” she said.
Duncalfe said organizers are hoping to see at least 100 people attend. While there is no cost to enter, anyone interested in attending is asked to call Duncalfe at 403-227-1177 or Neighborhood Place’s Angela Sande at 403-227-7744 to register.
For more information go to www.bullyfreeatwork.com.
