Description

Workplace Bullying (WB) refers to repeated negative or aggressive behavior directed toward an employee, which may adversely affect their physical or psychological well-being. Such behavior may include verbal or physical aggression, manipulation, social isolation, and other forms of mistreatment that can negatively influence both professional and personal life.

Purpose

The main purpose of assessing workplace bullying is to identify the conditions, behaviors, and organizational practices that may contribute to the development or persistence of bullying in the workplace.

Systematic assessment can support the development of prevention and intervention strategies aimed at improving employee well-being and the overall quality of the work environment.

Assessment and Scoring

Workplace bullying is typically assessed through questionnaires or structured rating scales that evaluate the frequency, intensity, and consequences of bullying-related behaviors.

Assessment may focus both on overall exposure to negative behaviors and on specific forms of mistreatment, such as social exclusion, undermining of professional performance, verbal aggression, manipulation, or other hostile workplace behaviors.

Data Analysis and Use

Data on workplace bullying can be used to examine the frequency and forms of bullying, as well as their associations with variables such as job satisfaction, occupational stress, psychological well-being, and intention to leave the workplace.

At the organizational level, findings may support the development of prevention policies, safer workplace climates, and appropriate reporting and incident-management procedures.

References

Einarsen, S., Hoel, H., Zapf, D., & Cooper, C. L. (2011). The concept of bullying at work: A review of the literature. International Journal of Management Reviews, 13(3), 224–243.

Rayner, C., Hoel, H., & Cooper, C. L. (2002). Workplace bullying: What we know, who is to blame, and what can we do? International Journal of Management Reviews, 4(1), 55–73.

Hershcovis, M. S., & Barling, J. (2010). Towards a theory of workplace aggression: A meta-analytic review of the literature. Journal of Management, 36(3), 801–828.

Zapf, D., & Einarsen, S. (2001). Violence and bullying in the workplace: Review of the literature and a model for future research. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10(2), 243–265.

Neuman, J. H., & Baron, R. A. (1998). Workplace violence and workplace aggression: Evidence concerning specific forms, potential causes, and preferred targets. Journal of Management, 24(3), 391–419.