英语听力精选进阶版 6209（在线收听）

Beyond the Playground 超越了校园操场

Most people remember bullies from their school days – the unpleasant gang demanding dinner money or the bigger child who picks on smaller, weaker kids.

But for some people the habit of bullying continues beyond their schooldays and into their working life.

The issue of bullying at work has become a hot potato recently in the UK after a political row erupted in which the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown was accused in a book of bullying aides at No 10.

The PM denied making the abusive outbursts the book accused him of, but was then confronted with claims from an anti-bullying charity that staff from No 10 had called their helpline.

The resulting mess of accusations, denials and resignations has brought the subject of bullying into the public eye.

So what is bullying in the workplace? According to the experts, it takes many forms including being unfairly treated, public humiliation, being regularly threatened with the sack, and even character assassination.

And in the modern world the phenomenon of cyberbullying has evolved whereby bullies attack their victims on social-networking sites or send menacing text messages and emails.

So if you feel you are being bullied at work, what should you do?

The UK government's website suggests an informal approach first. Try getting advice from an employee representative like a trade union official or someone in the firm's human resources department.

Alternatively, you may also try talking to the bully who may not be aware of how their behaviour is affecting you.

If all else fails you may have to make a formal complaint using your employer's grievance procedure or even take legal action.

Glossary 词汇表

unpleasant gang 令人讨厌的群伙 

dinner money 饭钱 

picks on 挑拣 

hot potato （热土豆）比喻棘手的问题 

political row erupted  爆发政治性争议 

aides 助手 

No 10 英国首相府 

abusive outbursts 侮辱性怒骂（某人） 

anti-bullying charity 反欺弱者慈善组织 

staff 工作人员 

helpline 服务热线 

resignations 辞职 

public humiliation 公开的侮辱（某人） 

character assassination 对人格/品质的诋毁 

cyberbullying 网络欺凌 

menacing 威胁性 

trade union official 工会官员 

human resources department 人力资源部门 

grievance procedure 申诉程序 

legal action 法律行动