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“ . . . A Bit of a Joke†: Policy and Workplace Bullying

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  • Margaret Hodgins
  • Duncan Lewis
  • Sarah MacCurtain
  • Patricia McNamara
  • Victoria Hogan
  • Lisa Pursell

Abstract

Workplace bullying is pervasive and has negative impacts on organizations and their employees. Despite this, organizations generally do not deal well with the problem. Anti-bullying, or Dignity-at-Work policies, do not adequately protect employees from the harms caused by bullying. This study, based on data from the 2018 Irish Workplace Behavior Study, explores experience of organizational responses to workplace bullying, drawing on interviews with participants from three large Irish organizations. One overarching theme and five sub themes emerged from the thematic content analysis, reinforcing earlier findings regarding the complex and problematic nature of workplace bullying and opaque “ownership†of anti-bullying or Dignity-at-Work policy and its implementation. The study concludes that organizations must actively establish a culture of interpersonal respect, rather than simply instituting a policy where ultimately no one takes responsibility. Facilitating employee wellbeing requires social cohesion across an organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Hodgins & Duncan Lewis & Sarah MacCurtain & Patricia McNamara & Victoria Hogan & Lisa Pursell, 2020. "“ . . . A Bit of a Joke†: Policy and Workplace Bullying," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:2:p:2158244020934493
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244020934493
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mojtaba Vaismoradi & Hannele Turunen & Terese Bondas, 2013. "Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 398-405, September.
    2. Allison J Ballard & Patricia Easteal, 2018. "The Secret Silent Spaces of Workplace Violence: Focus on Bullying (and Harassment)," Laws, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Thirlwall, Alison, 2015. "Organisational sequestering of workplace bullying: Adding insult to injury," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(2), pages 145-158, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Patricia Mannix-McNamara & Niamh Hickey & Sarah MacCurtain & Nicolaas Blom, 2021. "The Dark Side of School Culture," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Laura R. Persky & Janet L. Walsh & Ken Pinnock, 2023. "Creating Positive Workplace Culture To Reduce Workplace Bullying," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 17(1), pages 43-53.

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