WORKPLACE BULLYING EFFECTS

The Effects of Bullying in the Workplace

The Effects of Bullying in the Workplace

Introduction

Bullying in the Workplace is often more subtle than the kind of bullying kids do to each other in school, but bullying is fairly common among adults in the workplace. A 2010 survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute found that 35 percent of U.S. workers said they were victims of workplace bullying (Namie, 2011). Bullying behavior takes many forms and may often go unreported. Victims, companies and the bullies themselves may minimize the consequences, but they are real and sometimes devastating. Workplace bullying should look to model after domestic violence struggles years earlier, as it is only a matter of time before organizations, government, policy makers and the public become more aware of the consequences produced from workplace bullying.

Discussion

The Workplace Bullying Institute defines bullying as "repeated, health harming abusive conduct committed by bosses and co-workers" or as "repeated mistreatment: sabotage by others that prevent(s) work from getting done, verbal abuse, threatening conduct, intimidation, & humiliation" (Duffy & Sperry, 2012). Bullies usually target their own gender. In 2010, WBI reported 62 percent of workplace bullies were male, 32 percent female.

Effects on the Victim

Researchers at the University of Manitoba concluded in 2008 that workplace bullying takes an even more severe psychological toll on employees than sexual harassment. Effects on the victim may include loss of self-confidence, anxiety about work, tension at home with the family, sleeplessness, stomach pains, headaches, decreased morale and lower productivity (Koonin & Green, 2005). In extreme cases it can lead to severe depression and thoughts of suicide.

Effects on the Workplace

Bullying creates a toxic environment in the workplace that affects everyone. Higher rates of absenteeism and turnover, decreased overall productivity, poorer customer service, a higher risk of accidents and increased human resources costs for employee assistance programs, recruiting and hiring are just some of the negative ways an atmosphere of bullying can negatively affect a business owner's bottom line.

In the mobbing phenomenon has become especially important, as evident as the cause of depression, generalized anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorders, involving absenteeism, abandonment of the job, increased accidents, decreased quantity and quality of work, etc.., resulting in high costs in the industrialized society and the victim of bullying that threatened his career or profession, social and financial situation, and even their health.

To Hirigoyen the first symptoms are very similar to stress: fatigues, nervousness, sleep problems, migraines, digestive problems, back pain, but if the harassment continues in time, then you can set a major depressive state (Keashly & MacLean, 2004). According to the survey by Hirigoyen 69% of respondents to the questionnaire had experienced a major depressive state and 52% had various psychosomatic disorders (ibid). For this author, bullying leaves an indelible mark that can go from PTSD to an experience of toxic shame or lasting changes in their personality. The impairment persists even if the person is away from her stalker. 

The consequences in the workplace involve the progressive destruction of the working life of the victim (Duffy & Sperry, 2012). Because mobbing is usually entitled to time off work for stress, ...