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Writer's pictureRenee Spencer

Bullying in Cults vs. the Workplace: A Comparison

Updated: Jun 25



Bullying in cults

Bullying, whether it occurs within a destructive cult or in a workplace, is a problem characterised by the misuse of power and control to intimidate and harm others. In other words, it is a form of coercive control. Despite differences in context, the fundamental dynamics of abuse remain consistent. However, a notable contrast emerges in the level of protection and support available to victims. In Australia, regulators such as Fair Work and WorkCover offer recourse for employees experiencing workplace bullying, yet comparable safeguards are lacking within the sphere of cults.


Bullying in Destructive Cults

Destructive cults are characterised by the authoritarian control of leadership, who is often a charismatic individual, who demands absolute loyalty and obedience. Bullying within these groups often serves as a tool to enforce conformity, suppress dissent, and maintain the leader’s dominance. Tactics can include verbal abuse, emotional manipulation, public humiliation, and physical intimidation. Additionally, cults can be driven by competitive pressures, both internally and externally. Internally, members are often pitted against each other to demonstrate their loyalty and commitment. Externally, groups are encouraged to demonstrate they are superior to outsiders as part of an “us versus them” mentality. Both contexts foster an environment of bullying and psychological abuse.


For instance, in the case of the NXIVM cult, leader Keith Raniere used bullying and coercion to manipulate and control members. Women in the group were subjected to harsh criticism, body shaming, and threats, designed to break down their self-esteem and ensure compliance. Similarly, in the Australian cult Universal Medicine, founded by Serge Benhayon, is accused of subjecting members to surveillance, public punishments, and emotional abuse to instil fear and obedience. Competition for the leader's favour often exacerbated these behaviours, as members vied to prove their dedication.


Bullying in the Workplace

Workplace bullying involves repeated, unreasonable actions directed towards an employee, creating a risk to health and safety. This can take many forms, including verbal abuse, unjustified criticism, exclusion, and excessive monitoring. Unlike in cults, workplace bullying is often driven by competitive pressures, power struggles, or personal vendettas rather than a singular authoritarian figure.


The media often reports allegations of inappropriate conduct and bullying in businesses, especially when it occurs in rival companies. For example, channel 10, channel 9, channel 7, and the ABC have all had their fair share of allegations thrown at them for the mistreatment of staff. While such instances have been aired to the public, no business from supermarkets to trade industries, there are allegations of bullying in the workforce. Australia has protections in place for all of these.


Protections in Australia: Fair Work Policies and WorkCover

In Australia, the Fair Work Act provides protections against workplace bullying, defining it as repeated unreasonable behaviour that creates a risk to health and safety. Employees can seek help from the Fair Work Commission, which can issue orders to prevent further bullying. Additionally, WorkCover provides compensation and support to employees injured or harmed by workplace conditions, including bullying.


These mechanisms offer employees a legal framework to address bullying, seek redress, and obtain support. They ensure that victims have a pathway to report abuse and receive protection, highlighting a societal commitment to safe and respectful work environments.


Lack of Safeguards in Cults

In stark contrast, victims of bullying within destructive cults lack similar protections. Cults operate outside the regulatory frameworks that govern workplaces, often functioning in secrecy and isolation. Members are typically cut off from external support systems, including legal and mental health services, making it difficult to report abuse or seek help.


The absence of oversight and accountability in cults means that bullying and abuse can go unchecked. Victims may be too fearful of retribution or too indoctrinated to recognise their plight. Moreover, the stigma and lack of understanding surrounding cults can further isolate victims, leaving them with few avenues for escape or support.


Conclusion

The comparison between bullying in destructive cults and the workplace underscores significant differences in the availability of protections and recourse for victims. While Australia’s fair work policies and WorkCover provide a safety net for employees, no such safeguards exist for individuals within cults. This disparity highlights the need for greater awareness, legal frameworks, and support systems to protect those vulnerable to abuse in all contexts. 


Furthermore, it is important to recognise that bullying behaviour is also unacceptable in family and domestic violence situations - this topic shall be reviewed in the following blog. Addressing bullying in any form requires a commitment to safeguarding individuals’ rights and well-being, whether in the workplace, within cults, or in domestic environments. Society must strive to extend protections and support to all victims of bullying, recognising the universal need for safety, respect, and dignity.


Further reading

Australian Government. (n.d.). Fair Work Act 2009. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021C00299

Australian Human Rights Commission. (2018). Workplace bullying fact sheet. https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/publications/workplace-bullying-fact-sheet

Delaney, B. (2018). The Women Who Say They Were Bullied by Universal Medicine. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-11/universal-medicine-inside-a-secret-world-of-sect-like-control/9613318

Einarsen, S., & Hoel, H. (2008). Bullying and emotional abuse in the workplace: International perspectives in research and practice. Taylor & Francis.

Franks, D. D., & Kachur, R. E. (Eds.). (2014). Cults and new religious movements: A reader. John Wiley & Sons.

Hassan, S. (2018). Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-Selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults. Park Street Press.

Lalich, J., & Tobias, M. L. (2006). Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships. Bay Tree Publishing.

Leymann, H. (1990). Mobbing and Psychological Terror at Workplaces. Violence and Victims, 5(2), 119–126.

Safe Work Australia. (n.d.). Workers’ compensation schemes. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/legislation-and-regulation/workers-compensation-schemes

Wright, S. A. (2018). Resilience in the Face of Religious Cults: Implications for the Legal Community. Journal of Law and Religion, 33(3), 445–477.

Zablocki, B. (1997). Problems with the Concept of "Cult". Nova Religio, 1(2), 257–266.

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