Bullying and Work-Related Stress in the Irish Workplace

Abstract

Work-related stress is increasing in prevalence, with important consequences for employees, employers, the economy, and wider society. While previous research has identified a link between work-related stress and bullying, gaps remain in our understanding of the nature of the relationship. This article uses ordered logistic regression and nationally representative data on 5110 employees from Ireland to empirically analyse the distribution of subjective work-related stress and its relationship with bullying (self-reported). We also consider the role and importance of gender and the presence of a formal policy on respect and dignity at work, as well as the degree to which relationships between management and staff and between staff themselves are related to work-related stress. Amongst the main findings are that employees who reported that they were bullied were considerably more likely to report that they were often or always stressed, while bad and very bad relationships between management and staff were also significantly associated with greater stress, particularly for female employees. Overall, our findings have a range of implications for employees, employers, and policymakers.

The SME paradox? Investigating ill-treatment behaviours in small and medium-sized enterprises in Ireland

“…It has been argued that larger organisations are more likely to have systems and processes in place to tackle bullying and associated ill-treatment (O’Connell et al, 2007). Similarly, while the existence of anti-bullying or dignity at work policies is associated with lower stress levels for employees (Baillien et al, 2011a; Cullinan et al, 2019) questions about the preparedness of SMEs to tackle adverse social behaviours at work remain. Thus, our study is able to contribute to the debate but focusses on medium-sized firms.…”

“…In the face of poor levels of leadership/management support, it is not unreasonable for employees in SMEs to seek co-worker support, particularly in the smallest of firms where employees and owner-managers work in close proximity. While Cullinan et al (2019) found no evidence in Ireland for the effects of co-worker support on stress levels, others such as Lewis et al (2017) reported their importance in buffering the effects of bullying and harassment in SMEs. Fevre et al (2012) capture these concepts using the FARE acronym representing fairness and respect (see also Walker and Fincham, 2011).…”

“…Central to countering the impacts of poor working environments are the support of managers and colleagues through social interactions in the workplace and maintenance of appropriate behaviours and challenging of inappropriate ones (Baillien et al, 2011b; Lewis et al, 2017). Irish studies on bullying such as Cullinan et al (2019) demonstrate that employees who reported poor relationships between management and employees and who further perceived (a) a lack of social support at work and (b) the existence of negative workplace relationships, creates significant stressors at work. Contradictory expectations and demands or breaches of the psychological contract are often a feature of family-run firms which are almost exclusively micro or small businesses (Nadin and Cassell, 2007).…”

“…Leadership has also been prominent in research into bullying with researchers noting the importance of leadership style in countering negative employee outcomes, such as abusive leadership styles in tyrannical (Einarsen et al, 2007), or laissez-faire ways (Ägotnes et al, 2018). Similarly, levels of manager support in failing leadership organisations are likely to be low/absent and thus, control of work situations becomes challenging for employees (Cullinan et al, 2019) leading to negative employee outcomes. In the face of poor levels of leadership/management support, it is not unreasonable for employees in SMEs to seek co-worker support, particularly in the smallest of firms where employees and owner-managers work in close proximity.…”

The value of lost productivity from workplace bullying in Ireland

“…Workplace bullying is a pervasive problem with significant personal, social and economic costs. These include important deleterious effects on both physical and mental health, which can range from stress and unpleasant but manageable anxiety, to post traumatic stress disorder [1][2][3]. Other personal effects include poor concentration, increased propensity to accidents, lowered commitment and performance, increased consumption of alcohol and increased strain on personal relationships [4].…”