You may think that bullies only exist on the playground or in cyberspace, but according to Acas, an employment relations service, one in 10 employees are currently affected by bullying or harassment.

Bullying can happen anywhere; it crosses all levels of organizations and it's not only bad business, it's bad for business. As well as decreasing job satisfaction and employee morale, bullying can lead to rising absences and turnover, reduced productivity and possibly, legal costs.

Due to economic pressures, many employees are being asked to take on more responsibilities and stretch their resources further than ever. These additional burdens can strain office relationships, but pressure does not justify - or excuse - the mistreatment of others.

If you are being bullied by someone in your workplace, consider speaking with someone in the human resources department for help in dealing with this problem. If you'd rather try to diffuse the situation on your own before reporting it, here are some suggestions:

• Approach the bully in a professional manner, but only if your physical safety is not threatened. Ask what can be done to resolve the situation. Remain calm and unemotional; don't yell or cry.
• If talking it out doesn't work, try to ignore the bully. Bullies thrive on reactions, which is why they do what they do. The bigger and more explosive your reaction, the more the bully will like it, so don't give him or her the satisfaction.
• Discuss the situation with someone outside of the office who may have dealt with a similiar problem and ask for advice. Avoid talking about it with co-workers, however, as this may escalate the problem.
• Document everything. Keep a journal of when and what happens each time the bully confronts you. This can help your cause if you decide to report the problem.
• Focus on your job and bring attention to your competence. Bullies are often insecure people who make themselves feel better by belittling other people and sabotaging others' success. Don't give a bully power by letting him or her undermine your self-esteem. Stay confident and productive.