

Workplace bullying is often seen as a top-down problem, with supervisors largely to blame for bullying their reports.  But bullying is also a lateral issue as seen in colleague-to-colleague harassment.  The conduct can even go up the chain of command–bullies don’t tend to follow the rules that don’t suit them. 


Colleague-to-colleague bullying can overlap with on-the-job anger known as “desk rage.”  Although the two can include the same type of conduct, desk rage is generally considered a short-term or one-time outburst, whereas bullying involves a course of conduct repeated over a period of time. 

Desk rage has been in the news since a study released in July reported an increase in angry outbursts in the workplace.  Desk rage can take many forms–everything from the “silent treatment” and social exclusion, all the way to workplace violence, fall into this category.  The most common scenario involves abusive or threatening conduct such as cursing and screaming at another employee in the workplace. 


Is this conduct a result of tougher economic times?  Maybe.  It’s certainly conceivable that employees who sit in an extended and difficult commute while shelling out more and more for gasoline, are on the edge by the time they get to the office. 


But the cause of desk rage isn’t entirely economics.  Another reason may be generational. As older boomers enter retirement and the workplace becomes more populated by employees who are used to wearing their emotions on their sleeves. 
