When we hear the word “abuse,” what immediately springs to our mind is perhaps physical violence. It’s important to note that physical force is one means of power and control but it is far from the only one which cause bodily or mental pain. And perhaps to our surprise, physical violence is often not the first one an abuser will use.
Let’s check how many kinds of workplace abuse you have encountered and know more about them so that we can protect ourselves.
Abuse can be in the form of any of the following:
Physical Abuse – an intentional act to harm, injure or cause trauma to another person by means of bodily contact. It may include punching, hitting, slapping, kicking, strangling, physically restraining a partner against their will, or making someone afraid or feel physically unsafe.
Sexual Abuse – a sexual act (physical or non-physical) that is forced upon an individual without their consent. In this act of violence, the victim (survivor) is usually perceived as weaker by the perpetrator.
Financial Abuse – an abuse of power of one over the other. It includes withholding money and using it for blackmailing and intimidating the individual. It can include denying and preventing access to one’s salary or benefits and exploitation.
Verbal Abuse – an intentional act to harm, injure or cause trauma to another person by means of words to manipulate, intimidate and maintain control over. It may include derogatory remarks, humiliation, ridicule and the “silent treatment.”
Psychological (Emotional) Abuse – exposing another person to a behavior, through words or actions, that may result to the harm of the mental-wellbeing of an individual (e.g., psychological trauma, anxiety, or depression). It may include enforced social isolation, failure to respect privacy, threats of harm or termination, bullying etc.
