Schoolyard bullying has no place in a work environment. A Forbes survey found that 75 percent of employees had been affected in some way by workplace bullying, whether as a victim or as a witness. Workplace bullying can have a number of adverse effects, and it is important that employers do everything they can to create a positive environment for all employees.

The impact of workplace bullying

Perhaps the most obvious of impacts of workplace bullying is on the victim's mental and physical health. An employee being bullied – whether it is physical or verbal – is likely to experience mental anguish and increased stress. This is also likely to increase absenteeism and decrease the quality of their performance.

Depending on how severe the bullying is, the target may see no solution but to take a leave of absence, further reducing productivity, or even leave the company. It is estimated that workplace bullying costs more than $200 billion annually, and studies have shown that workers suffering from bullying perform 50 percent more poorly on cognitive tests.