Candidates with short work histories or failure to develop within the organization may indicate that a person has been a member of a bully triad in the past. Remember, a bully triad consists of the bully, the victim, and the bystander. It is essential that, during the screening process, questions be presented to explore the candidate’s opinions, ideas, or experience with workplace bullies. Often, members of previous bully triads consist of individuals who have tried to survive toxic workplaces, and bringing them into your organization may involve a time of healing so that the employee can learn to trust again and relinquish unhealthy coping mechanisms. Workplace bullying is common, and identifying elements of past triads among new employees may help managers develop orientation programs that include a triage area for support and clarification of acceptable behaviors and values.
