

Deceptiveĭeception is the act of intentionally obscuring the truth to trick someone. It could also be someone invading your personal space and making you feel threatened and unsafe. Another form of physical coercion is the obstruction or removal of physical property. This can happen in the form of physical harassment, such as pushing or hitting. Physical coercion is when a workplace authority uses their physical body to threaten or control a subordinate’s behavior.

They may be so subtle it’s hard to pinpoint them.īelow are the common types of workplace coercion that employees need to be able to identify. Additionally, not all of the forms are easy to recognize. Workplace coercion isn't a one-size-fits-all situation.Ĭoercive behavior can involve psychological, emotional, sexual, or physical manipulation. They fear losing their job or receiving negative backlash or a negative performance review. People in lower-status positions are unlikely to retaliate against coercion. These tasks could be something like running personal errands for a manager. The employee can avoid suspension if they carry out tasks that aren't part of their job description. By pulling rank, they influence the behavior of those within their power.Ī workplace coercion example could be a new (or old) manager threatening an employee with suspension. Workplace coercion, also called workplace intimidation, happens when a person in a position of authority uses their power as leverage. Having employees on various levels with different power lends itself to potential problems. Because of this, there are many opportunities for misuse or abuse of power. Let’s take a deeper look at how to prevent different forms of coercion from happening at work.Ī typical workplace often has a hierarchical structure. It’s an unhealthy workplace dynamic that can have serious negative consequences for an individual’s well-being. In the workplace, coercion can be used to force employees to behave a certain way or do certain things.

It’s an attempt to control a person’s behavior with force or manipulation. Put simply, coercion is forcing someone to do something by making threats. This can lead to workplace coercion.īut what is coercion? Is coercion illegal? And why is coercion bad? Start the conversation on workplace coercionĪs much as an organization tries to create a positive company culture, negative workplace dynamics can happen.ĭifferences in management styles and even personalities can lead to abuse of power. 5 consequences of workplace intimidation and coercion
