At Work, Being Bullied Is Better Than Being Ignored

Thursday, May 29, 2014 - 11:33 in Psychology & Sociology

Many people, regardless of occupation, have experienced a difficult boss or annoying co-workers. It might even be harassment or bullying. It's still better than being ignored, according to a paper in Organization Science. University of British Columbia scholars contend that while most consider ostracism less harmful than bullying, feeling excluded is significantly more likely to lead job dissatisfaction, quitting and health problems. "We've been taught that ignoring someone is socially preferable--if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all," says Professor Sandra Robinson, who co-authored the paper. "But ostracism actually leads people to feel more helpless, like they're not worthy of any attention at all."  read more

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