Today we are meeting virtually as a department, talking about how to help our students, how to teach our online courses, and how to continue working in this way for the next couple of weeks as this pandemic continues. One of the professors at the meeting says 'this social distancing is depressing' and another one says 'he is feeling grief' (Berinato, 2020).
What does this depression and grief really mean? We see the world is changing before our eyes-there is a loss of normalcy and a failure to really connect with others right now. Particularly, there is a disconnect of really connecting with others through the use of social media and technology. It hits us that we are grieving the change and loss of what resulted from the pandemic, before the pandemic existed and the future which seems so uncertain. All of a sudden we feel a loss of safety and a lack of control.
Now consider the similarities as we consider how workplace bullying promotes grief. The people who are bullied and are demeaned and criticized by their bosses, grieve their situations, as a result of their shame and doubt stemming from their boss' behavior. The boss' behavior is absolutely troubling and annoying, and causes grief. Such work abuse affects present jobs and future careers as well as financial stability. The sense of loss is paramount and grief is a response to this abuse.
Acknowledge your grief openly. Your bosses will not change their approach. Stop the bargaining in your mind-well maybe my boss is smart and really means well. Accept your grief - "this bullying is happening and I need to work on planning how to proceed".
In this way we better deal with situations that cause grief.
Please consider my services by looking at my website at: www.bullyingpreventionconsulting.com or write to me at bullyingpreventionconsulting@gmail.com. We offer individual consults as well as workshops for small or large scale groups.
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