Have you retaliated against an employee? Most would likely answer “Of course not!” After all, you know it’s illegal and, what’s more, you’re probably a pretty nice person, too. But the fact is that, in the eyes of federal law, supervisors may be engaged in workplace retaliation without even realizing it.
Defining workplace retaliation.
This happens when an employer takes action against an employee because the worker engaged in “protected conduct.” Protected conduct covers a range of activities, from complaining internally about sexual harassment to participating in a hearing or investigation regarding the employer.
Here’s what workplace retaliation looks like:
- The employee engages in a protected conduct, and the employer knows the worker engaged in it.
- As a result, the employer takes negative action against the worker.
Retaliation claims have risen in recent years for a number of reasons including the U.S. Supreme Court’s expansion of workers’ rights regarding retaliation, increased employee awareness, and more robust enforcement from regulatory agencies.
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Bullying or bantering. Can you tell the difference between the two? As a supervisor, you know it can be tricky sometimes to determine what is genuine workplace bullying and what is typical 
colleague bantering. This guide will give you a workplace bullying definition you can use to create a happier, more productive workplace.
What does bullying look like?
The workplace bullying definition can apply to a single bully or a group of people who:
- Play practical jokes repeatedly on the same victim.
- Single out one employee persistently for blame or criticism.
- Exclude a worker regularly from company activities.
- Deliberately and persistently ignore a particular employee’s work or contributions.
- Verbally abuse an employee through regular swearing, shouting, or intimidation.
- Threaten or sabotage an employee’s professional status.
What is not bullying?
- A co-worker who is critical of all colleagues or customers.
- A manager who regularly shouts at or criticizes all employees.
- Harassment based on a person’s gender, religion, ethnicity, or other protected status.
So what’s the difference?
A shouting manager and a cranky co-worker are more likely to be guilty of poor social skills than bullying. The workplace bullying definition is typically related to negative behavior directed at one particular person or group. The behaviors are designed to embarrass or intimidate the victims and are often persistent.
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