Workplace bullying: how the issue is addressed by academia, trade unions and government agencies

Abstract

This research aimed to discuss how the theme of bullying at work has been addressed in academia, in trade unions and in government agencies from the analysis of the definitions of bullying or moral harassment (Category Defini­tion), the identification of its causes (Category Causes) and the ways pointed to deal with it (Category Intervention). In regard to academia, a literature review of articles published between 2009 and November 2013 was carried out, resulting in final sample size of 28 papers. The information about how the theme is addressed by trade unions and government areas was obtained by a documentary analysis of booklets and pamphlets produced by these agencies for informing and guiding the general public regarding the issue of bullying at work. Eight booklets and pamphlets published by trade unions and ten by government agencies were found. In all items, the definitions of moral harassment at work were similar. The Category Causes was where we found highest diversity of responses, varying from individual to social-economics-cultural aspects, including organizations and their way of organizing and managing work, and some items that focused on more psycho­logical explanatory lines. The Category Interventions had little coverage in the articles, being, however, present in all the pamphlets and booklets, particularly regarding the measures to be taken by victims and witnesses. Bullying at work is a complex multicausal issue and it has widespread repercussions. The different approaches to the theme have converged in the way they defined the issue, but the attribution of its causes has varied a lot and there is a lack of studies reporting the outcomes of interventions undertaken to face the problem.