Recognising and identifying intimidation

Because intimidation in the workplace can take many different forms, it can sometimes be difficult to recognise. For many people, intimidation is a form of inappropriate or boundary-crossing behaviour. Someone literally crosses your moral boundaries and touches an area where another person should not come. These boundaries are different for everyone.

If you consistently feel afraid or threatened by the behaviour of a colleague, there is a good chance that you are being intimidated. Victims often show certain warning signals. These can be seemingly harmless behaviours that indicate that someone is stressed, such as tics, absence, or nervousness.

However, stress caused by intimidation can also lead to frequent illness, stomach complaints, or self-harm. The victim may also try to avoid social contact with certain colleagues. The perpetrator often lacks a sense of guilt, because in their view the victim “deserves it.” If you notice that colleagues repeatedly have conflicts without any attempt at reconciliation or rapprochement afterwards, there may be intimidation in the workplace.