The views expressed herein are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of One News SVG.
We put out a challenge on Saturday, September 12, 2026, for members of the public to submit pieces on the topic: “What does bullying look like in the workplace”. We received 10 entries. The following is one of the honourable mentions. Writers were offered the option to remain anonymous and nine of the 10 writers requested anonymity.
Here is one of the honourable mentions:
Workplace bullying is something many people experience but are sometimes afraid to talk about. It can happen in different forms being shouted at, being insulted, being humiliated, being constantly criticized, or simply being made to feel like your concerns do not matter. I know this because I have experienced workplace bullying myself.
I was 21 years old when I experienced bullying from a supervisor. There were times when I was cursed at and spoken to using dirty and disrespectful words. There were also times when I was shouted at. What made the situation even more difficult was that when I tried to complain about what was happening, I felt as though my concerns were not taken seriously. It felt like the situation was simply allowed to slide.
Eventually, I was transferred to another department. I hoped that things would be different and that I would have a fresh start. Unfortunately, I experienced similar treatment there as well.
At only 21 years old, I was already carrying more than people around me knew. What was happening in my personal life was difficult, and at the same time, I was dealing with bullying at work. I was already in therapy because I was struggling with suicidal thoughts and had previously attempted suicide. I was going through a very difficult period in my life, and the treatment I experienced at work made an already painful situation even harder.
I share this not to blame or attack anyone, but because I want people to understand that you never truly know what another person is going through.
Someone may walk into work, smile, do their job and appear completely fine, while privately dealing with problems that they have not told anyone about. When that person is then bullied, shouted at, cursed at or constantly made to feel worthless, the impact can be much greater than the bully realizes.
I am only 23 now, but those experiences have stayed with me. They changed the way I look at workplaces and, honestly, they have left me traumatized about working in large organizations. When you have experienced bullying repeatedly throughout your life, experiencing it again in a workplace can reinforce the feeling that you are never truly safe from it.
Some people may say, “It is just work,” or “You need to have thick skin.” But workplace bullying should not be dismissed that easily. Employees deserve to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their position.
Being a supervisor or manager comes with responsibility. Having authority over someone does not give anyone the right to curse at them, humiliate them or make them feel insignificant. Correcting an employee is part of being a supervisor, but there is a difference between professional correction and verbal abuse.
Another important part of addressing workplace bullying is taking complaints seriously. When someone finally finds the courage to speak up about how they are being treated, ignoring the complaint or allowing the behavior to continue can make that person feel powerless.
My experience has taught me that workplaces need to pay attention not only to productivity, but also to the well-being and dignity of their employees.
Bullying can leave wounds that people cannot see. It can affect a person’s confidence, mental well-being and willingness to trust others. Sometimes, the person being bullied is already fighting battles outside of work that nobody knows about.
I am speaking from experience because I know how damaging bullying can be. I hope that by sharing my story, someone else who is experiencing the same thing will know that what they are going through matters and that speaking up is not a sign of weakness.
A workplace should be a place where people can grow, contribute and earn a livingnot a place where they are made to feel worthless.
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