Image extracted from: Talent Management Blog
As previously discussed on the post “Workplace Bullying: Does it Happen?” we were able to learn about this issue and begin to understand the magnitude of the problem in today’s society. The effects of workplace bullying on employee productivity is also a topic of interest when talking about a hostile work environment.
According to the site www.worktrauma.org, “Work Trauma has a devastating effect on the victims’ productivity, emotional and physical health. The victims waste, according to research, between 10 and 52 per cent of their time at work defending themselves and networking for support, thinking about the situation, being demotivated and stressed, let alone absences due to stress-related illnesses.”
This means the effects of workplace bullying go beyond the victim, affecting employee productivity and subsequently, the organization’s productivity. Mary Krakow, a shareholder and Chair of the Employment & Labor Law Group, states that “even without a federal or state statute prohibiting generic workplace bullying, employers cannot afford to ignore such behavior because of its negative effects on the work environment and employee productivity.” She recommends that employers implement a code of conduct to discourage such behaviors. That would also demonstrate the organization’s commitment to creating a respectful work environment.
Another study suggests that the effects of workplace bullying can be more devastating to its victims than the effects of sexual harassment. Radha Chitale presents the findings of this study on ABC News article “When Workplace Bullying Goes Too Far.“ To learn more about this study and the effects of workplace bullying, you can read the article or watch the video bellow.
