Workplace bullying image, Author GwenFord (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
The victims of childhood abuse may remain vulnerable to abuse as adults in a variety of circumstances. Domestic abuse is one example. Workplace abuse is another.
Hostile Workplace
Abusive conduct in the workplace can range from insults or derogatory statements, humiliating public censure, bullying and threatening remarks, to sabotage of an employee’s work product/professional growth/reputation, sexual harassment, and blatant discrimination [1][2][3][4].
Actions that intimidate, belittle or degrade individuals, foster a toxic environment. They often occur as part of a pattern of behavior.
Dangers of Workplace Abuse
Aside from the psychological impact negative behaviors like these have, they can lead to injuries on the job and outright violence — the third leading cause of occupational fatalities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics [5].
Legal Rights
Employees are entitled under the law to a workplace free of harassment and hostile conduct.
Unfortunately, some employers turn a blind eye to such behavior, rather than actively discouraging it. As a result, employees in a certain category (for example, Hispanics or young women) may routinely be targeted for abuse.
While this can expose an employer to legal liability, the more important question is how an employee should respond.
Susceptibility
Since all employees (whatever their childhood experiences) are by nature dependent on their jobs, they are necessarily susceptible to abuse from an employer. According to the American Psychological Society, fully 22% of employees have at some point suffered harm to their mental health at work [6].
The job market may not allow for an immediate change of position. However, the victims of childhood abuse are likely to tolerate workplace abuse longer than others.
Why is this? Several factors come into play.
As abuse victims, we are well familiar with abusive behavior. After all, we have lived with it before. Fair treatment is less familiar to us, and not viewed as an entitlement.
We may exhibit the classic symptoms of a stressful work environment — the headaches, back pain, insomnia, hypertension, heart palpitations, etc. — yet fail to see that we need a change. Instead, we try harder.
We are less likely to believe we will find a better job, and more likely to worry that we will never be hired again. This goes toward our sense of inadequacy. As children, we were repeatedly told that we were unworthy. That belief is now ingrained.
But we deserve more.
Our Own Value
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10: 30-31).
Short of litigation, it may not be possible to change a hostile organizational culture. Some companies articulate values like communication and respect, without actually practicing them.
Thankfully, most employers are concerned with productivity and employee turnover. That can work to an employee’s advantage.
First though we must recognize our own value. In God’s eyes, that value is infinite (Eph. 1: 4, 7) [7]. And no one can take it from us.
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[1] Wikipedia, “Toxic workplace”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_workplace.
[2] Wikipedia, “Workplace bullying”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_bullying.
[3] Mitratech Syntrio, “Understanding Abusive Conduct in the Workplace” by Marcy Ann Villafana, 6/27/23, https://syntrio.com/blog/understanding-abusive-conduct-in-the-workplace/.
[4] Working: Now and Then, “What Is a Hostile Work Environment?” by Charles Joseph, Esq., https://www.workingnowandthen.com/hostile-work-environment/what-is-a-hostile-work-environment/.
[5] Bureau of Labor Statistics, “National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2022”, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf.
[6] US News, “What Is a Toxic Work Environment – And How Can I Avoid It?” by Jamela Adam, 11/8/23, https://www.usnews.com/careers/articles/what-is-a-toxic-work-environment-and-how-can-i-avoid-it.
[7] Limitless-Horizon, “Do You Know You Are Valuable to God?” by Sharon Hazel, 3/15/23, https://limitless-horizon.com/you-are-valuable-to-god/.
The Rose Garden — A Daughter’s Story
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Die Belästigungen am Arbeitsplatz sind häufiger, als bekannt ist. Früher haben sich die Frauen nicht gewehrt, es galt als “normal”, wenn der Arbeitgeber der Angestellten einen Klaps auf den Po oder sonst etwas machte. Seit der “me too”-Bewegung hat sich das etwas geändert, aber vieles bleibt doch ungesühnt. LG M.
Du hast so recht, Marie. Die menschliche Natur ändert sich nicht. Es gibt immer noch viele, die andere ausnutzen, um ihr eigenes Ego zu stärken, wenn sie die Gelegenheit dazu haben. LG, A.
informative post Anna, one that resonates with me because it dredged up some old memories of encounters I’ve had in the workplace.
When I was a young 30 year old supervisor, I attended a mandatory, off-site meeting of supervisors on a Sunday morning. Shortly after the meeting began I was called to the front of the room by the lead supervisor and thoroughly chewed out with one vulgarity after another for some minor infraction. I had never been so humiliated in my life.
A year or so later, I was transferred to another area where my direct supervisor was a female who was constantly making sexual suggestions to me. She never did it when others were around but when alone she would resume the comments and suggestions, making me extremely uncomfortable.
Oddly enough, in those days workplace harassment wasn’t even talked about, it was just the way things were and you were expected to deal with it.
I appreciate you calling attention to what is still a huge problem in the workplace, and I do hope people will understand that they do not have to “deal with it” but that there are laws that protect them.
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Ron. All too many of us have had similar experiences.
“However, the victims of childhood abuse are likely to tolerate workplace abuse longer than others.” I had not considered this before but I have seen it to be true, the willingness to tolerance because it is familiar and perhaps too somehow deserved. A very informative post, Anna.
I have lived it, Dora. I can attest it’s true. But abuse victims are capable of change. That is the important thing. ❤
I’ve been in more than one abusive workplace. Fortunately, I’ve had the good fortune of working in some healthy workplaces as well, and so it was easier to recognize a workplace that was decidedly unhealthy. I’m glad the abusive workplaces weren’t my first job.
Auf der Uni habe ich mich, als Wahlfach, mit der Analyse der Toxizität am Arbeitsplatz beschäftigt. Die Schlussfolgerungen waren folgende:
1. Tolerieren der Toxizität seitens Arbeitgeber führt einerseits zur Stärkerung der Teamleistung kurz- umd mittelfristig, jedoch langfristig wirkt es sich auf so eine Firma potenziell verheerend aus.
2. Weniger toxisch sind kleinere, übersichtliche Abteilungen und Firmen, wo die Toleranz von Toxizität entweder zu einem viel früheren Kollaps führt, oder schneller erkennbar und daher leichter zu beheben ist.
Bei dem Forschungsprojekt habe ich mathematische Statistikmethoden benutzt.
Mein Forschungsprojekt dauerte nur kurz and ergab daher nur wenig Resultate, also bin ich jeder Erkenntniserweiterung offen.
Faszinierend. Ich behaupte nicht, ein Experte auf diesem Gebiet zu sein, schon gar nicht aus statistischer Sicht.
Allerdings reagieren Menschen nicht gut auf Missbrauch – sei es am Arbeitsplatz oder anderswo. Es ist kaum verwunderlich, dass sie schließlich rebellierten, zumindest indem sie ihren Arbeitsplatz aufgaben, um woanders zu arbeiten.
Es wird immer diejenigen geben, die dazu neigen, andere zu missbrauchen. Noch beschämender ist, dass Unternehmen, die nur Lippenbekenntnisse zu Gleichheits- und Aufstiegsidealen abgeben, Missbrauch am Arbeitsplatz tolerieren.
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