HR Professionals: Targets of Workplace Bullying

A small but noteworthy survey of HR professionals in the U.S. state of Kentucky reveals what may be a significant but underreported issue: bullying of HR professionals.

The survey finds 31.4 percent of HR professionals have been bullied at work. Among those who have been bullied, 42.4 percent say the bullying included work inference or sabotage; 33.3 percent say it included verbal use; and 24.2 percent say it involved offensive conduct such as threats, humiliation or intimidation.

As interesting, and perhaps as important, among those who have been bullied, 54.1 percent say the abuse was related to their role as an HR professional.