Workplace bullying is unfortunately a common reality for many employees. This can include harassment, exclusion, withholding information, or anything else that will harm employees or impair their performance. Bullying has been linked to harmful consequences for the victims, such as mental and physical health issues, a desire to leave their place of work, and even suicidal thoughts.
THE RESEARCH STUDY
The researchers of this study (Balducci et al., 2024) gathered data from 158 employees across several different organizations. For six weeks, the employees filled out weekly surveys about bullying that they experienced at work. Overall, the researchers found that employees who had experienced bullying behaviors reported higher levels of both post-traumatic symptoms and workplace phobia. Increased workplace phobia also led to more reported symptoms. These results were even worse for employees who had experienced a traumatic life event within the previous 12 months.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
This study sheds light on the harmful lasting effects of bullying within the workplace. Organizations who wish to combat the effects of bullying should do the following:
- Develop a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, even for seemingly minor acts.
- Learn to recognize the signs of traumatic symptoms so that they can identify employees who may be experiencing bullying.
- Train bystanders to intervene when they witness bullying taking place.
- Provide resources for employees who may be victims of bullying, such as anonymous reporting channels or counseling.
Balducci, C., Conway, P. M., & Vignoli, M. (2024). A weekly diary within-individual investigation of the relationship between exposure to bullying behavior, workplace phobia, and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 29(2), 72-89.
Image credit: Unsplash+