Does Bystander Intervention Training Work? When Employee Intentions and Organisational Barriers Collide

Abstract

Scholars have recently begun to consider the role of bystander intervention training in countering workplace incivility and bullying. Given the scarce empirical evidence of bystander training outcomes in occupational settings, this study set out to evaluate the effectiveness of a bystander intervention training in a large healthcare organisation, by assessing changes to levels of psychological safety, bystander efficacy, intent and behaviours over time. One hundred and forty employees in a large healthcare organisation in New Zealand attended the training and were asked to complete three surveys, one conducted at baseline, one carried out 2 weeks following the training and the last survey conducted 2 months later. The qualitative and qualitative findings of this study show that the bystander intervention training resulted in significant improvements to bystander attitudes and beliefs, which were ascribed to the quality of training materials, the facilitator and opportunities to role-play bystander intervention strategies. However, the positive bystander beliefs, attitudes and intent to intervene declined in the months following the training. The qualitative findings shed a light on these results and suggest that the participants required support for training transfer in the form of updated and accessible information about negative acts and bystander intervention strategies, leadership support and role modelling of bystander behaviours and civility, and the implementation of accountability systems that ensure the ongoing development of a civility culture.

Professionalism and professional identity formation in dental students: Revisiting the professional role orientation inventory (PROI)

“…Key to that reframing is an expansion of previous definitions to allow for intervention mechanisms, systems and practices – not simply refraining from doing harm but actively interfering or taking action if wrong is being witnessed 10,27 . In an attempt to combat and mitigate incivility, discriminatory and prejudiced behavior, academic health centers are beginning to offer bystander intervention training – taking on a responsibility for ensuring safe learning, teaching and practice environments 28–30 …”

“…10,27 In an attempt to combat and mitigate incivility, discriminatory and prejudiced behavior, academic health centers are beginning to offer bystander intervention training -taking on a responsibility for ensuring safe learning, teaching and practice environments. [28][29][30] Dentistry and dental education needs to address this realigned understanding of professionalism, particularly given the history of bias associated with some professionalism standards, especially those standards, practices and rules that have heavily emphasized appearance, grooming, hairstyles, or cultural attire that actually communicate preference as opposed to professional behavior or action. 31 In fact, legal scholars categorize regulations around hair, beard lengths, and culturally influenced piercings as grooming codes; denoting "grooming codes or length of hair is related more closely to the employer's choice of how to run a business" versus an attribute of professionalism.…”

Empowering Students against Ethnic Bullying: Review and Recommendations of Innovative School Programs

“…Through role-playing, the students are expected to explore different perspectives and learn how to respond to bullying situations [63]. Role-playing is an effective method for teaching bystander intervention skills, as it provides individuals with the opportunity to practice intervening in a safe environment [64]. In the second part of the activity, teachers will present participants with multiple scenarios related to ethnic bullying and bystander intervention opportunities.…”

Academic bullying and diversity: challenges and solutions

“…At the individual level, bullying is reduced among those that have been made aware of bullying through cognitive training [24] and provided with the tools to address bullying [25]. For example, bystander intervention training can ameliorate bullying, but only in the short term [26]. Real changes require follow-up and support from the organization.…”