TD Magazine Article
Bullying Is Rampant
It affects well-being and retention.
Sat Mar 01 2025
Workplace bullying has become a widespread issue. Matrix Recruitment's 2024 Workplace Equity Report, based on responses from 1,300 workers in Ireland, reveals that nearly nine in 10 workers identified office bullying as a significant problem. In the US, more than three in 10 workers have directly experienced workplace bullying, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute's 2024 US Workplace Bullying Survey.
In addition, the WBI reports that three-fourths of American adults are aware of workplace bullying. More than 52 million Americans have been directly bullied at work, while almost 23 million workers have witnessed bullying.
The WBI specifies that bullying is a nonphysical form of workplace violence. Similarly, the 2024 Workplace Equity Report notes that bullying includes passive-aggressive remarks, unjust criticism in front of colleagues, being treated differently from peers, and regular disparaging remarks. Per Matrix Recruitment, such behaviors have hurt retention. Thirty-eight percent of respondents have left a job because of experiences with bullying, while another 35 percent have considered leaving.
"Companies must focus on creating equitable environments, where every individual can thrive without fear of harassment or bullying," says Rena Weld, regional recruitment manager at Matrix Recruitment, in a press release. "It's clear from our survey that the current mechanisms for reporting bullying need significant improvement; it's not just a matter of policy, it's simply a matter of doing right by your staff."
Those meting out punishment do suffer negative consequences—but that's only 27 percent of the time. Although that rate registers as progress—WBI notes it is the highest increase in six years of conducting the survey—the figure isn't high enough to stanch the pervasiveness of the bad behavior or to help current victims. Bullies also suffer negative consequences at a much lower rate than victims in the US, as bullying targets not only endure poor treatment, they have a 62 percent chance of leaving their jobs.
