Beating the Workplace Bully

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ARE YOU A BULLY MAGNET?

Courage is knowing what not to fear.—PLATO

HEAD NURSE MOLLY was ten months from retirement when Pauline started work at the clinic. Like the rest of the clinic’s employees, Molly welcomed Pauline aboard, greeting her with flowers on her first day. Pauline took the flowers with barely a glance and handed them to the receptionist, saying “Put these in water.”

Molly, a kind, round-faced woman with warm hazel eyes and wavy auburn hair flecked with gray, had urged the clinic’s physician owners to hire someone like Pauline, saying the clinic had grown to a size that required a clinic administrator in addition to her own head nurse position. When the managing physician asked Molly, “Do you want to supervise her?” Molly responded, ...