The article itself is good; but even more impressive (and outrageous) are the comments that appear along with the article, in which you will find story after story of genuinely awful situations in which employees have been unjustly and utterly trashed, without any effective means of recourse.
I am pleased that this phenomenon is getting more attention. I know people who have gone through it, and I’ve experienced it, myself. I can attest that it can be personally and professionally devastating. In fact, the article states that it can be more damaging than sexual harassment. That makes sense: like any other traumatic event, workplace bullying (by a supervisor, and/or by co-workers) creates alterations in your perceptions of self, others, and the world around you. You are likely to perceive yourself as less competent, less effective, and less likable (and you will display less self-confidence). You will see others as (at least potentially) vindictive, deceitful, unpredictable, and untrustworthy. And you will see the world (especially the work world) as unsafe. Most of us walk around with a comforting sense that the world is generally going to be OK for us; we harbor a "just world hypothesis" that tells us that if we behave generally like good people, then we will be treated fairly. Loss of the "just world hypothesis" can cause us to become more timid, less willing to take risks. These changes in perception (and, accordingly, in behavior and in emotions) can be long-lasting, and very much detrimental to our well-being.
Earlier of my posts about workplace bullying are “The Employee Elimination Game,” and "Hounded From a Job." Another previous post that has some relevance has to do with narcissism and psychopathy; many of the supervisors who engage in destructive behavior to subordinates are highly narcissistic and controlling, prone to engaging on power trips.
Describing the problem much easier than offering solutions. In reading about this, I find that there is little agreement about how an employee can best respond if s/he finds herself being, essentially, targeted for destruction. Some say she should speak up to anyone who will listen; others advise that he should attempt to placate the abusive supervisor. Many suggest, sadly, that it is best to simply cut your losses, and get out of the situation as soon as possible (in other words, get another job, while your sanity and reputation are still intact). Sometimes it might be a good idea to get a lawyer; other times, that would just make the situation even worse. I'm sorry to say that I don't have a good answer, myself.
UPDATE (3/25/08): another (very good) article in the NYT on this topic is here. Also, a link to an excellent video on the topic, here.
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