In today’s modern work environment, where hierarchies and power dynamics are prevalent, the misuse of authority is of concern. It can be hard to address and protect the victims with power dynamics. From the explosive harassment of victims in media (Monica Lewinsky much?) and a lack of proper channels to address this issue, victims can go through a dreaded form of punishment with low chance of justice. Yes, the #metoo movement has highlighted such abuses, but perpetrators often go scot-free.
Abuse of authority occurs when individuals in positions of power exploit their roles, leading to unfair treatment and compromising the rights of others. This abuse extends beyond mere misconduct—it manifests as workplace harassment, encompassing both physical and psychological forms.
This blog delves into the intricate connection between abuse of authority and workplace harassment, shedding light on its profound implications and the need for awareness and change.
Abuse of Authority—A Form of Workplace Harassment
Authority and power are necessary ingredients of organizations as social systems to coordinate the activities of people to achieve objectives. The hierarchical lines in an organization are related, ascending from the lower ranks to the top.
However, when superiors take advantage of their position by exceeding the exercise of their capacity not in the company’s interest but to harm other employees or force them to act against their will, it is an abuse of authority.
And a major example of this abuse of authority is workplace harassment- psychological abuse- such as mobbing, where a superior insults an employee because of how they are, their physique, or how they do their work, etc. It can go to an extent where it starts affecting the employee’s mental well-being.
The fact is that anyone in your work environment can abuse authority over you, either because they have a higher position than you (director, manager, department head) or because of their way of seeing you as inferior or vulnerable, taking advantage of that situation.
Workplace Harassment—Physical and Moral
The dividing line between what mobbing means and what abuse of authority is very fine, and many times one tends to be equated with the other
Mobbing or moral harassment is associated with the employer’s abuse of authority since all violence will be considered a modality in the exercise of power the employer will have.
Said harassment includes both physical and even verbal, externalizing not only its broad power but also its unlimited behaviors, reaching the humiliation of the worker.
Many workers perceive the abuse of authority as a subjugation of the other; that is to say, it could act as a trigger for mobbing or harassment, encompassing behaviors such as intolerance towards the error in the execution of the assigned tasks, the lack of recognition towards their performance, seniority, including mistreatment and disrespectful verbal communication.
Hence, workplace violence is a form of abuse that affects the worker and the rest of the company. The abuse of authority means that in exercising its mandate, the employer exceeds the established limits, making labor relations more toxic and difficult to carry.
Final Considerations!
Making the right and ethical use of this power complements the company’s management, creating a healthy organizational culture. However, abuse of authority as a form of workplace harassment, from physical to moral, turns the workplace into a true battlefield and affects workers and the rest of the company. It destroys the image of the person exercising it and harms the surrounding people.
The superiors often practice it without even realizing what bad they’re doing. Ray Comeau explains this in his book, “What Bad We Do,” highlighting the wrong actions people practice, destroying their lives and those around them. This book is a guide to help you analyze your actions, fix your mistakes, and make better decisions in the future. Click here to learn more about the book and how to protect yourself and others around you.