Bullying at Work: Personal Relationships and Undermined Social Support—A Creative Writing Case Study

Abstract

Workplace bullying is a massive problem with well‐documented, nasty consequences for the mental and physical health, well‐being, careers, and personal lives of targets. What have not been adequately interrogated are the relational consequences for third parties of those impacted by bullying at work: personal relationships with friends, partners, and family members can also be undermined, and the social support normally anticipated, and the relationship itself, can be impaired. This chapter presents a creative nonfiction account of workplace bullying showing the lack of understanding of workplace bullying by all involved, the lack of social support arising from the knowledge gaps, and the negative impacts on all involved. Further research into the social and relational outcomes of workplace bullying is recommended.