Industry Culture, Bullying and Accountability

~When passion turns into pain, the outcome can be devastating.

WHY I WROTE THIS BLOG:

I wrote this piece to address a reality that exists across many industries. Animal Rescue, Recovery & Welfare is no stranger to this behavior. The behavior is often difficult to name—subtle, strategic bullying that undermines people and their work without ever being openly acknowledged. My goal is not to escalate or accuse, but to educate, support and reinforce the values that allow any industry to function with integrity. By naming common patterns and offering constructive ways to respond, I hope to encourage healthier environments where professionalism, accountability and respect remain central to the work being done.

BULLee and Glory Hog represent behaviors — the damage they cause is real. The image above uses two characters—BULLee & Glory Hog as metaphors.

UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERNS:

BULLee represents intimidation, exclusion and narrative control. This pattern relies on influence rather than transparency, using pressure or silence to sideline others instead of addressing.

Glory Hog represents ego driven behavior— Seeking recognition, control, or credit at the expense of collaboration and outcomes. When ego leads, the work itself becomes secondary.

These patterns appear across industries, often together. When intimidation pairs with ego, environments become less about shared purpose and more about power, perception and positioning.

KEEPING THE FOCUS WHERE IT BELONGS:

Bullying isn’t limited to schoolyards or social media. It exists in workplaces, volunteer spaces, nonprofits, creative industries and professional communities of all kinds. Often, it doesn’t look loud or aggressive. It looks subtle. Polished. Strategic.

It shows up as undermining, side conversations, vague warnings and carefully worded commentary that creates doubt without offering solutions. It leaves people questioning themselves, their work and their place—often without ever being able to point to a single obvious incident.

This kind of bullying is especially difficult to address because it thrives in ambiguity.

Healthy industries don’t eliminate disagreement—but they do handle it with transparency, accountability and respect.

When ego, intimidation or narrative control take center stage, everyone loses—not just individuals, but the credibility and effectiveness of the industry itself.

Everyone plays a role in the culture of an industry—not just the loudest voices.

IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!

If you hear gossip, undermining talk, or narratives designed to discredit others, don’t let it go unaddressed. You don’t need to escalate or attack. Often, the most effective response is calm redirection, clarification or disengagement.

Bullying rarely continues through the actions of one person alone—it persists through the environment around it.

Listening without questioning, repeating without verifying, or quietly entertaining harmful narratives can unintentionally give them power.

DO SOMETHING! BE SUPPORTIVE:

Support doesn’t require confrontation, but it does require intention.

Support can look like

• Redirecting conversations that aren’t constructive

• Refusing to pass along unverified claims

• Checking in privately with someone who may be affected.

• Choosing not to give airtime to behavior that undermines the worK

IF YOU’RE EXPERIENCING THIS KIND OF BULLYING:

You’re not alone. These situations occur more frequently than many realize, often because the behavior goes unnoticed or because others are uncertain how to respond or scared to respond.

You do not need to prove your worth! Focus on what you can control: your integrity, your professionalism and your work.

SEEK HELP!!‍ ‍

Talk to someone you trust—a close friend, family member or mentor. You may also seek assistance from local organizations or community-based resources that provide counseling, guidance and support related to bullying.

Below are some resources to help.. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

~National Bullying Prevention Center : ‍ ‍PACER.ORG. Ph# 952.838.9000 ~ Email: pacer@pacer.org

~988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org Available 24/7 CALL 988 or TEXT 988

Don’t be embarrassed and don’t be scared. YOU MATTER!!!

Integrity isn’t a preference—it’s a responsibility ~Michelle

AND DON’T COME BACK!!!!