Online Course
Bystander to Upstander: Practical Intervention
Buying for an organization? Per-employee pricing and one company code for your whole team → For organizations
A short course on everyday workplace bullying — the boss who yells, the colleague who is relentlessly critical, the group that freezes someone out, the humiliation in front of others.
It is built on the uncomfortable reason bullying persists: bullies bully because there are no consequences. Employers let it run, often because the bully performs well, while the organization pays in absenteeism, morale, productivity and the good people who leave rather than speak up.
The course draws the line on both sides. Bullying — which California defines as abusive conduct — is repeated verbal abuse, conduct a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating or humiliating, or work being undermined or sabotaged. Bullying as such is generally not unlawful, while the same material is explicit that intentionally injuring a co-worker can be assault or battery and a crime — severity is the thing to read, not the label. On the other side, a supervisor setting reasonable goals, managing work flow or giving constructive feedback is not bullying, and the allegation itself can be used as a shield for poor performance.
Who it’s for: every employee, and anyone who has watched this happen and not known what to do.
What’s inside
2 sections · 4 items
Session 1 · Why bystanders freeze
- The bystander effect, honestly explained · video
- Session 1 post-test · knowledge check
Session 2 · The 4 D's
- Direct, Distract, Delegate, Delay · video
- Session 2 post-test · knowledge check
Common questions
What does this course cover?
Everyday workplace bullying and why colleagues noticing it matters: the boss who yells, the colleague who is relentlessly critical, the group that freezes someone out, the humiliation in front of others. It is built on the reason bullying persists, which is that bullies bully because there are no consequences.
Is this additional content, or material from the Bullying course?
It is assembled from the Bullying course's material and the same footage appears there. Take it as a short introduction, not as additional content.
Where does it draw the line?
On both sides. The course teaches that bullying — which California defines as abusive conduct — is repeated verbal abuse, conduct a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating or humiliating, or work being undermined or sabotaged; that bullying as such is generally not unlawful; and, in its own question-and-answer material, that intentionally injuring a co-worker can be assault or battery and a crime. On the other side, it is explicit that a supervisor setting reasonable goals, managing work flow or giving constructive feedback is not bullying, and that the allegation itself can be used as a shield for poor performance.
Who is it for, and how is it structured?
Every employee, and anyone who has watched this happen and not known what to do. Two video chapters, both drawn from the Bullying course. Progress saves as you go and a certificate is issued on completion. The course also carries knowledge checks; they are being re-matched to this footage, so treat the videos as the content of record.