Bullying at Workplace: A Case Study Analysis of Devil Wears Prada

This essay examines the theme of workplace bullying through the lens of the film 'The Devil Wears Prada,' focusing on the experiences of Andy Sachs as she navigates a hostile work environment under Miranda Priestly. It discusses the psychological and emotional impacts of bullying on individuals, including feelings of humiliation, demotivation, and mental health issues, further elaborating on potential reactions such as anger, anxiety, and loss of confidence. The essay explores the motivations behind bullying behavior, such as the bully's need for power or underlying feelings of inadequacy, and suggests strategies for addressing and preventing bullying in the workplace, including direct confrontation, escalation to higher authorities, and legal recourse. It emphasizes the importance of moral support for victims and proactive management intervention to create a healthier, more respectful work environment. The essay also references relevant academic literature to support its analysis and recommendations.

Running Head: Bullying at the Workplace
Bullying at the Workplace
Devil Wears Prada

Bullying at the Workplace
 In Devil Wears Prada, the New York magazine Editor in Chief Miranda Priestly hired
a PA named Andy Sachs. She wanted to work healthily for Miranda but Miranda had
some other plans. The situation caused which felt like Miranda bullying Andy were
several like calling her in the night for work, asking her to do the work which low
level authorities would do, she would insult her in front of public and personally etc.
 The person who is bullied feels humiliated and feels that he is not respected at all.
Because of this issue, people can get easily demotivated about their work and job. It
can even cause mental harassment and mental illness to them (Fapohunda,, 2013).
 People reactions of the people would be
1. Anger
2. Shock
3. Frustration
4. Loss of hunger and Insomnia
5. Panic and anxiety
6. Lost Confidence
7. Increase in the vulnerability
8. Psychosomatic symptoms like headache and mental illness.
9. Family Tension and stress
10. Low concentration (Georgakopoulos, Wilkin , & Kent , 2011)
11. Low morale and performance
 A bully can feel the power by bullying the person at the workplace. The can mentally
satisfy themselves by taking out the unethical aggression on the people they are
bullying. A person who bullies people himself has low esteem and might have work
stress which he can take out this way by bullying his subordinates. A personal grudge
too can be the reason for bullying.
 If I was in the situation then I will firmly tell the person that this behaviour will not be
accepted at all at the workplace. I would have taken this matter to the higher
authorities and ask for the help. I would have kept the daily or record maintained so
that I could show it to the higher authorities when proof being asked.
 If any colleague would have been witnessing the same issue then I firstly would have
talked to that person and ask about the details. If it would have felt that this is a big
matter then I would have asked my colleague to react strongly to the bully and if this
does not work then I would have asked my colleague to escalate this matter to the
higher authorities and get some help (Carroll & Martin Lauzier, 2014).
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Bullying at the Workplace
 Being the manager, I would have got hold on the bullies on the first place. After
catching them, I would have asked them to correct their behaviour and not to do so. If
this does not stop then being a manager, I would have given them the warning and
there are laws or code of conducts at every workplace which are to be followed by
each and every employee, hence, I would have taken some serious actions against the
bullies so that it would become an example for other bullies as well.
 If the situation of bullying is not taken seriously, then there are always ways to get
help from the laws. Bullying comes under many domains such as code of conduct at
workplace, ethics, harassment, health and safety etc. There are laws for all such
problems. Hence, a proper help from the laws could be taken ( Bano & Malik, 2013).
 A moral support is a must for the person who is being bullied at the workplace. I
would help in every way possible from emotionally to physically and by letting him
know about the way he can stop himself from getting bullied.
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Bullying at the Workplace
References
Bano, S., & Malik, S. (2013). Impact of Workplace Bullying on Organizational Outcome.
Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences, 7(3), 618-627.
Carroll, T. L., & Martin Lauzier, M. (2014). Workplace Bullying and Job Satisfaction: The
Buffering Effect of Social Suppor. Universal Journal of Psychology, 2(2), 81-89.
Fapohunda,, T. M. (2013). Managing workplace bullying. Journal of Human Resource
Management, 1(3), 39-47.
Georgakopoulos, A., Wilkin , L., & Kent , B. (2011). Workplace Bullying: A Complex
Problem in Contemporary Organizations. International Journal of Business and
Social Science, 2(3).
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