The Self-Improvement Studio

Confronting a bully directly (Use this script when you feel confident and safe enough to confront the bully directly):

• Assertive: “I want to let you know that your behavior towards me is not acceptable. I expect to be treated with respect in the workplace, and I will not tolerate being bullied or disrespected.”
• Calm and firm: “I understand that you may have a different perspective on this, but I want to bring to your attention that your actions and words towards me are causing me to feel uncomfortable and disrespected. I kindly ask you to stop this behavior immediately.”
• Empathetic: “I understand that you might be going through a difficult time, but your behavior towards me is causing me to feel hurt and disrespected. Can we talk about it and find a way to move forward without hurting each other?”
• Direct: “Stop [specific behavior]. I will not tolerate it and will take further actions if it continues.”

Reporting an incident to management (Use this script when you feel ready to report an incident of bullying to management. Be specific about the behavior and how it affected you, and be prepared to provide documentation and the names of any witnesses.):

• Clear and concise: “I would like to report an incident of workplace bullying that I have experienced. On [date], [name of bully] [specific behavior]. I have documentation and witnesses to support my claims. I would like to request that appropriate action is taken to address this issue and ensure that it does not happen again.”
• Professional and assertive: “I would like to bring to your attention an ongoing issue of workplace bullying that I have been experiencing. I have documented evidence of [name of bully] engaging in [specific behavior] on [date]. I kindly request that this matter is handled with urgency and appropriate action is taken to ensure that the behavior stops and a safe and respectful work environment is maintained.”
• Empathetic but firm: “I would like to report an incident of workplace bullying that has been affecting me emotionally. [Name of bully] has been [specific behavior] on [date]. I understand that you may not have been aware of this, but it has been causing me a lot of stress and discomfort. I kindly request that this matter is handled with care and appropriate action is taken to ensure that it does not happen again.”
• Direct: “I’m reporting [name of bully] for [specific behavior] on [date]. I have evidence and I expect it to be handled promptly”

Requesting a meeting with HR (Use this script when you want to request a meeting with HR to discuss an issue of bullying. Be prepared to provide documentation and evidence of the bullying):

• Professional and assertive: “I would like to request a meeting with HR to discuss an issue of workplace bullying that I have been experiencing. I have documented evidence and would like to discuss the options available to me and the steps that will be taken to address the issue.”
• Clear and concise: “I would like to request a meeting with HR to discuss an incident of workplace bullying that I have experienced. I have documentation and would like to discuss the next steps that will be taken to address the issue.”
• Empathetic: “I would like to request a meeting with HR to discuss an issue of workplace bullying that has been affecting me emotionally. I understand that you may not have been aware of this, but it has been causing me a lot of stress and discomfort. I kindly request that this matter is handled with care.”
• Direct: “I need to schedule a meeting with HR regarding [name of bully] and their [specific behavior]. I have evidence and it needs to be addressed.”

Seeking support from a colleague (Use this script when you want to reach out to a colleague for support. Keep in mind that you don’t have to go into details if you don’t feel comfortable doing so):

• Open and honest: “I am going through a difficult situation at work and I could really use some support. Can we talk about it?”
• Professional: “I would like to discuss a situation I am facing in the workplace with you and seek your advice. Can we schedule a meeting or a call at your convenience?”
• Empathetic: “I understand that you might be busy, but I am going through a tough time and I could really use your support. Can we talk about it for a few minutes?”
• Direct: “I need to talk to you about something that’s been happening at work. Are you available now?”

It’s important to remember that speaking up can be difficult, and it’s okay to take time to process your feelings and gather evidence before taking action. Remember that you have the right to work in a safe and respectful environment, and it’s important to protect yourself and stand up for your rights.

It’s also important to keep in mind that you can reach out to external resources, such as employee assistance programs, legal advice or trade unions to get the support and guidance you need.

We hope this document has provided you with valuable tools and resources for dealing with workplace bullying. If you have found this document helpful, please share it with others who may benefit from it. We value your feedback and would love to hear if this document has helped you or if you have any suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to reach out to us and let us know your thoughts or leave a comment below.