If you've been working for any time at all, chances are you've encountered a bully in the workplace. Perhaps you were brave, young, naive, or all of the above and decided to confront your Nemesis. If so, congratulations and BRAVO for you. (Have you ever considered writing an article?) Most people do not have the intestinal fortitude (guts) to confront even the most trivial of such workplace abuses. Particularly when the bully is in a position of authority over you. Many simply trudge along hoping and praying that the storm will pass, or that the bully will find another victim, or be promoted. I even heard of one case where the name of the bully was placed into the hands of a Corporate Head Hunter, and the bully was offered a position with their competitor. One small step for company A, one giant leap (backwards) for company B. Ah yes, the things one does not put on a resume.



How Does It Begin?

Forget about how it began. I'm sick and tired of hearing the excuses about how Johnny was bullied in school and blah, blah, blah! We were all bullied in school. That fact does not entitle us to heap abuse of any kind onto anyone. In fact, if Johnny WAS actually bullied in school, shouldn't he/she know how awful it feels to be bullied?! If you're looking for an article on how to pity, coddle, or in anyway enable a workplace bully you are looking in the wrong place.

You Don't Need To Confront

Isn't the best solution to the bully at work issue to ignore the abuse? If there are any threats of physical violence the answer is absolutely not. Not only are such threats abusive, they are illegal. If your bully has made threats to your physical well-being you should bring these issues to the attention of your bully's superiors. If there are no superiors above him/her you should consult with an attorney and local law enforcement. Additionally, the threats could be emotionally harmful if pervasive enough. Though harder to prove than physical abuse, you might be able to file a lawsuit for the Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. (IIED) Then again, who has an extra $20,000 to $30,000 to spend on attorneys (typical cost for such cases) with no guarantees of prevailing? I say save your money. It will be much better spent on investing in yourself.

Money Well Spent

Although it is difficult to deal with pervasive and unnecessary harassment from a workplace bully, it is not impossible. One simply needs to channel the negative emotional energy from feelings of anger, hurt and frustration into a more positive direction. Foster that energy into motivation to do SOMETHING! Perhaps going back to school to finish your degree would be right for you. Looking into alternatives to your current vocation could be another door of opportunity. But for many the golden handcuffs of good pay and benefits keep them working even in untenable conditions. But in today's economy and with the advent of the internet at your disposal, there could be a business opportunity just waiting for a hard worker like yourself. After all, you know how hard you've worked all your life. Isn't it time to start benefiting from that terrific work ethic?

The Time Is Now

With so many opportunities out there, you're probably going to have difficulty choosing the right one for you. But, do your homework BEFORE you invest your hard earned (remember you're working with a bully) time and money. Every day you go to work and the bully gives you grief, it will motivate you on to achieve greatness on your own. You may even thank him/her for being just the catalyst you needed for a fresh new start. But don't quit before you know you have ?arrived?. ?How will I know when that is??, you ask? When you pull up to your office early in your new car, park in your bully's parking space and say: ?It's been nice working for you!? one last time.

Robert Ritter and his wife Lynne have begun a new endeavor with a new business venture. They are Independent Distributors for MonaVie. http://www.monavie.com MonaVie is the premier acai blend. It is a fabulous product with many testimonials from users. The business is doing great, in spite of the fact that Robert has had very littel time to devote to building it. You may see and hear testimonials from others using MonaVie at their website. See Resource box.