Mobbing in the workplace is more common than you think

• What is workplace mobbing?
• Report harassment to the EEOC.
• Prioritize your mental and physical health at work.

In a work environment where harmony should prevail, harassment has become a persistent shadow that affects countless individuals worldwide.

Moderated by Kristel Escobar, the latest edition of our Common Crimes Special focused on an increasingly alarming topic: mobbing or workplace harassment.

This phenomenon — characterized by continued psychological actions that detract employees’ ability to work effectively —  was discussed by expert lawyer Aaron Ortiz Santos.

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What is workplace mobbing?

Workplace mobbing and harrassment is characterized by continued psychological actions that detract from the work of employees. Expert lawyer Aaron Ortiz Santos discussed what it involves.

Ortiz Santos broke down the multifaceted nature of mobbing, indicating that it can manifest among colleagues at all levels.

It can be presented through insults, threats, attacks, unjustified work loads and comments of a sexual or humiliating nature.

The lawyer emphasized the importance of legally recognizing workplace harassment and knowing the procedures for reporting it.

Challenges in reporting harassment and available resources

Victims have traditionally faced challenges in filing complaints, given the lack of a specific legal framework addressing this type of psychological aggression.

For those in the United States, the Equal Employment and Opportunity Office (EEOC) is the first step for those seeking justice.

This federal agency offers a channel for victims to initiate investigations into their cases.

Ortiz Santos also provided a perspective on the typical profile of aggressors in the workplace.

Profile of aggressors and the devastating consequences of workplace mobbing

Ortiz Santos describes them as insecure and mentally dysfunctional individuals who seek to assert their power by abusing others.

The motive behind mobbing can vary from jealousy, envy, racial or sexual discrimination, to differences in income.

However, the common denominator is usually the insecurity of the aggressor.

The consequences of workplace mobbing are alarmingly severe, and can be devastating to victims’ mental and physical health.

Recommended actions for victims

It can even trigger violence.

In conclusion, Ortiz urged victims of any form of bullying to report it, document each instance and consider, if necessary, filing criminal charges.

He stressed the importance of prioritizing mental and physical health over a toxic work environment.

This report not only sheds light on the dark reality of workplace bullying but also offers hope and direction for those seeking to free themselves from its shadow.