The first time I encountered a workplace bully, I was brand new to the business world. 24 years old, an excited college graduate, I was ready to start my career in HR. But I would quickly come to find that it’s not always rainbows and butterflies.

In the first few months of my job, I had to conduct an investigation on another employee based on a complaint I received. The investigated employee was less than happy with the situation, and actually began to bully me.

I completed my investigation and suggested to my boss that the employee under investigation receive anger management training and coaching. If you encounter a similar situation at work, read on and you’ll receive the best tips to know how to handle this kind of situation. After all, most of us spend a good portion of our day at the office. So we should work in a place that is both comfortable and as stress-free as possible.

According to a 2015 study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, 27% of employees in the U.S. have experienced workplace bullying before, most often from supervisors. There are many possible reasons for bullying behavior by bosses. These include the boss’s personality, home life, feelings about how fairly they are being treated by the organization, and the performance and behavior of their employees.

But let’s dive back into my story. The bullying I endured started off very subtly. My coworker began leaving me angry notes and emails, and finally culminated in his words bringing me to tears. It escalated one day when he blocked the path to my office door so I could not leave the room.

Not all workplace bullying and abuse is verbal in nature. It can be physical or psychological. The reason behind a bully’s abusive behavior is as unique as the bully themselves.

Dr. Ronald Riggio, author and expert in organizational psychology, says, “Many bullies cover up their own feelings of inadequacies and low self-esteem by putting down others. Some bullies are egocentric and narcissistic, and uncaring of the impact of their behavior on others. Some bullies were themselves targets of bullies, or may be bullied at work and bring it home.”

Workplace abuse should not be tolerated. Sometimes the situation isn’t as clear cut as we want. However, employees who believe they are experiencing abusive behavior can (and should) take measures to protect themselves:

• Document the behavior. Using a notebook, make notes of the date, time, location and situation that transpired that you witnessed or were a part of. You will need this information when you make a statement to HR as part of their workplace investigation.

• Talk to your boss or HR. As mentioned, we all deserve to work in an environment free from discrimination, violence, hostility or negativity. Depending on your comfort level, have a frank discussion with an HR team member or a member of management about the abusive behavior you have been experiencing. Be prepared with notes and written statements that provide a timeline and describe the severity of the bullying behavior you are experiencing.

• Talk to a professional. Talk to your primary care doctor and ask for a referral to a psychologist regularly. Talking to a professional helped me work through and understand behavioral patterns of myself and others. At minimum, talk to a friend or family member about the abuse. The support of family and friends is invaluable in any and every type of abuse situation, workplace or otherwise.

• Understand you are protected. You are entitled to a hostility-free work environment and once you talk to your boss or HR, retaliation for the investigation will not be tolerated. If you feel unsafe, contact the police and file a report.

While scary and yes, quite uncomfortable, the experience taught me a great deal about myself. I learned the importance of getting a handle on my emotions, documenting conversations, talking candidly with my boss, and standing up for myself. Above all, remember this: you don’t have to endure any form of bullying. It’s never warranted or deserved.