The Prevalence And Effect Of Workplace - 2014 Words

Workplace bullying is a significant but complex issue that presents challenges for a large portion of Australian firms. Depicted as a form of psychological violence, there have been continuous cases resulting in serious mental injury or even death. Accordingly over the past decade, research against workplace bullying has rapidly increased internationally including Australia. Since its first study in the UK, following studies agree on the fact that workplace bullying has become a hazard affecting people in their daily work-life. Special attention is required as it is not a matter exclusive to a certain region or industry. Its negative impacts being evident, managing and preventing it is a major task for all workplaces concerned.†¦show more content†¦It found that 6.8 percent of Australian workers have been bullied at work six months prior to being surveyed, with more than half experiencing bullying for longer than six months period. (Dollard 2012) Also, the news article on ‘the human cost of workplace bullying’ claimed that such conditions were costing Australian economy between 6 to 36billion dollars a year. The major reasons pinpointed were the reduced productivity, increase in number of absenteeism and turnover. In addition to its impact on economy, workplace bullying has a devastating effect on the individual employees. Bullying can bring significant damage to the victim’s wellbeing, which in extreme cases leads to suicide. Regarding a research conducted by Toni Mellington, an Australian health psychologist, there is a direct negative relationship between bullying and health. (Gregor 2015) Employees who claimed to have been bullied reported poorer health, with an increase in severity of bullying increasing the chance of poorer health. The finding also suggested that the experience of merely witnessing bullying can also have a negative impact on one’s health, backing up the fact that bullying affe cts not only the individual but the entire firm. The eye-catching studies above urge a prompt reaction towards resolving workplace bullying. Currently everyone at workplace is potentially at the risk of being bullied. Knowing the prevalence of bullying and the