5 Types of Bullies in the Workplace
Mackenzie Waldron is a writer focused on ensuring workers have the information and resources they need to thrive. She explores topics that come up on Empower Work’s free, confidential text line and brings research-backed approaches to support you.
Workplace bullying is a common issue we see through our text line. Bullying at work is abuse, discrimination, and an act of violence—it is a safety issue that affects people’s livelihoods and people can even lose their jobs. In every workplace bullying situation, there is always a target and a bully.
According to Laurie Scop at the National Workplace Bullying Coalition (NWBC), targets of workplace bullying “are highly skilled workers…with integrity and are very ethical people inside and outside of the workplace…you’re singled out because you are different in some way, even if the way that you’re different is positive.”
These traits of the target are a threat to the bully. While bullies can have similar traits like narcissism, insecurity, and feeling threatened, bullies can come in many different forms and personality types. For example, you may be able to see some bullies’ traits from a mile away, and others not so much.
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Here are 5 types of workplace bullies to look out for:
1. The boss who abuses their power
When the bully in the workplace is your boss, this can be intimidating and it may seem impossible to figure out what to do. When someone in a higher position is abusing their power against you, everything is at stake—your job, your income, your mental health. This type of bully is usually always measuring how they compare to others as it pertains to power, even in other aspects of their lives—relationships, friendships, within their family, etc.
Some examples of abuse of power may look like isolating you from other employees, trying to get you fired or to quit, having condescending responses to your questions, speaking to other employees about you in a negative way, giving you unmanageable workloads, and more.
As an Empower Work help seeker shared:
“My boss wants someone that they can bully and boss around...They are passive aggressively trying to make me resign.”
2. The coworker with two faces
Many people have that person at work they feel they can trust. Some may even call this person their friend. But, what happens if this friend shares with others what you may have shared in private? Or, what if they spread rumors about you? They act one way to your face, but turn around and act a completely different way with others.
It’s important to be careful what you share with others at work, in case you share something with a coworker who has bad intentions. There’s a chance that this person is jealous of you or would have something to gain by selling you out.
An Empower Work help seeker shared:
“I have a two-faced coworker who is in the running for the boss’s position if they get fired, and this coworker…gets joy out of people's misery…the coworker would be all fake, texting me to see if I'm okay and asking why I'm really calling in. I'm tired of questioning if I can trust her when I know I can't.”
3. The group effort
In some cases, bullies can multiply. A workplace bully situation can start out as one person targeting you, and they can spread rumors, recruit more bullies, and it becomes a group effort. This is called mobbing. This tactic is meant to isolate you and make you feel lesser than.
According to Laurie Scop from the NWBC, “What started with one person can become mobbing, where others get involved (including HR, Administration, etc.) and there is now a group that’s targeting this person, which results in insecurity, fear, terror, and trauma for the target.”
As one Empower Work help seeker shared:
“Lately it has been more revealing through supervisors not speaking up when someone from their "friend group" acts, speaks, or behaves unprofessionally. Yesterday, a coworker made another coworker cry through aggressive and bullying language, and our supervisor (his close friend) backed him up rather than the victim being attacked.”
4. The passive aggressor
The passive aggressive bully isn’t always obvious. They may hide their snarky comments or even talk about you behind your back. They make evasive comments where you almost can’t tell if it’s an insult or not, which may leave you feeling like you’re the problem for doubting their intentions.
This type of bullying is so evasive, that when you try to confront them or reach out to someone else for support, there seems to be little to no evidence of bullying. The bully can easily make an excuse or act like they don’t know what you’re talking about.
As one Empower Work help seeker shared:
“I'm overwhelmed with stress, and the passive aggressive comments from my coworkers aren't helping me with deciding what to do. Recently I've been thinking about quitting.”
5. The company
When you’re in a toxic situation at work, the company or organization you work for is supposed to help you feel safe and welcome. When the company stands by the bully, they become a part of the problem—and the biggest part of the problem. There are many reasons why the company would support the bully—loyalty, connections, status—but no reason is justifiable.
As one Empower Work help seeker shared:
“I worked at this company for 8 years. From the beginning, I dealt with bullying…a new boss started there and she started making my life a living hell…I had to complain to HR because she tried to write me up unfairly…and after that, HR removed my write-up from my file.”
Reach out for support
While there are many different types of workplace bullying—and beyond these 5 types listed above—it is always important to remember that this is targeted abuse, and if you are experiencing this, it’s not your fault. Workplace bullying is never okay.
It’s okay to ask for help. Reach out to a trusted coworker, a friend, a family member. Our peer counselors are always here to support you and figure out next steps. Text 510-674-1414 for free, confidential support from a peer counselor or start a web chat.
*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.