Bullying is a rising point of concern in our culture, but a less-recognized aspect of this issue is workplace bullying. Nearly 50 percent of the United States workforce has experienced or witnessed instances of bullying, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute. This sobering statistic includes social service workers whose careers focus on helping others.
Kathryn Brohl's Social Service Workplace Bullying: A Betrayal of Good Intentions pulls back the curtain on an unhealthy trend within the helping profession. This book, the first of its kind, is a practical guide for students and practitioners to help close the gap between social service workers and their professional ideals. It examines the ways social service organizations structurally perpetuate inappropriate behavior in the workplace and provides strategies to recognize, address, and resolve these behaviors. Brohl clearly defines workplace bullying, identifies its contributing factors, reveals common misperceptions about suitable behavior, and describes how these factors play into the organizational social service structure. This book informs readers about the dynamics of workplace bullying with the goal of helping to improve morale, increase productivity, and provide a safe workplace environment for all employees.