Social Service Workplace Bullying ― A Betrayal of Good Intentions

Bullying is a rising point of concern in our culture, but a less-recognized aspect of this issue is workplace bullying. Nearly 50 percent of the United States workforce has experienced or witnessed instances of bullying, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute. This sobering statistic includes social service workers whose careers focus on helping others.

Kathryn Brohl's Social Service Workplace Bullying: A Betrayal of Good Intentions pulls back the curtain on an unhealthy trend within the helping profession. This book, the first of its kind, is a practical guide for students and practitioners to help close the gap between social service workers and their professional ideals. It examines the ways social service organizations structurally perpetuate inappropriate behavior in the workplace and provides strategies to recognize, address, and resolve these behaviors. Brohl clearly defines workplace bullying, identifies its contributing factors, reveals common misperceptions about suitable behavior, and describes how these factors play into the organizational social service structure. This book informs readers about the dynamics of workplace bullying with the goal of helping to improve morale, increase productivity, and provide a safe workplace environment for all employees.

Kathryn Brohl (MA, Ohio State University; LMFT, Family Therapy Institute) has over thirty-five years of experience as an administrator, writer, psychotherapist, frontline worker, trainer, and consultant. She has written and implemented several start-up programs, including intensive outpatient and mental health programs and a substantial child welfare system. Brohl has published six books and has received special recognition for her commitment to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. She has worked with indigenous people on generational trauma and has trained professional and volunteer child and family advocacy staff throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia on trauma-informed care.