Ostracism is a form of social exclusion where a group deliberately ignores, excludes, or rejects someone.
Ostracism can occur in various social settings, such as schools, workplaces, or communities. It’s a form of social punishment that can negatively affect the individual and the overall dynamics of the group or community involved.
Ostracism in the workplace tops the chart as the highest form of workplace bullying. It involves exclusion from social activities, being included in meaningful discussions or decisions, and receiving minimal communication from colleagues or supervisors. The group may also intentionally avoid interaction or contact with the individual, often leading to their isolation.
It can significantly impact the ostracised person, causing loneliness, hurt, and lowered self-esteem. It also affects the individual’s well-being, job satisfaction, and overall productivity at work. Research has also shown that people who get ostracised at work are more likely to feel stress, withdraw from the organization, and are more likely to quit. Continue reading if you think you are being Ostracized at Work.
Who practices Ostracism in the workplace?
Different people or groups in a company can exclude others, and it’s not just something that happens with specific job titles or ranks. It can happen in different ways and at different levels in the organization. To prevent exclusion, companies should encourage everyone to be included, talk openly, and find ways to solve problems.
Also, not all cases of people feeling left out at work are filed intentionally or to hurt someone. Sometimes, it happens because people don’t understand each other or because they come from different backgrounds.
1. Your Peers
Not all peers will like you no matter what, and you know that, but when no one likes you. It can be challenging to work and coordinate with your peers. Peers engage in Ostracism due to personal conflicts, competition, or cliques. Most individuals who practice this behaviour do this as they favour certain races, genders, religions, belief systems or other protected characteristics. They make the work environment hostile for anyone who needs help understanding their way of thinking.
2. Supervisors or Managers
In most cases, managers are the ostraciser as they do not want you to shine and be recognized. They may also exclude you from essential discussions or opportunities.
They will favour less deserving employees and also practice isolating or excluding individuals, making you feel that you do not belong to their circle.
They usually do this to control or maintain their authority. You will also notice that these Managers lack solid interpersonal skills and do not effectively communicate or collaborate with you or your ideas. They are biased towards their belief system and those who follow them.
3. Insecure or Threatened Individuals
The most common reason an Employee who is perfect and an excellent performer may feel unseen, unheard and lose their confidence is that their peers and Managers feel insecure or threatened by the competence or success of their coworkers and resort to Ostracism to protect their place in the organization and stopping your growth by breaking your confidence.
I have mostly seen this in organizations where the culture of Valuing conformity over diversity is practised.
The less deserving people form a group and treat an individual with cold behavior only to feel secure in their positions and group.
Let’s learn how to deal with being ostracised at Work.
Love and Light
Your Psychosis G
When not working, can usually be found reading a book, spending (perhaps a little too much) time meditating, practicing yog, or just vibing in the present moment like a mindfulness pro. And—despite claiming she knits very badly—she still picks up the needles now and then. Blogging to share her life learnings is her passion!