The prevalence of ill-treatment and bullying at work in Ireland
International Journal of Workplace Health Management
ISSN: 1753-8351
Article publication date: 26 February 2020
Issue publication date: 3 September 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of ill-treatment and bullying experienced by Irish workers and to explore individual and organisational predictors. The most recent national figures available are specific to bullying and predate the economic recession; therefore, this study is timely and investigates a broader range of negative behaviours.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey study on a national probability sample of Irish employees was conducted (N = 1,764). The study design replicated the methodology employed in the British workplace behaviour study.
Findings
The results showed that 43% of Irish workers had experienced ill-treatment at work over the past two years, with 9% meeting the criteria for experiencing workplace bullying. A number of individual and organisational factors were found to be significantly associated with the experience of ill-treatment at work.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides national-level data on workplace ill-treatment and bullying that are directly comparable to British study findings.
Practical implications
The findings indicate that a significant number of Irish workers experience ill-treatment at work, and that workplace bullying does not appear to have decreased since the last national study was conducted in Ireland.
Social implications
This study is of use to the Irish regulator and persons responsible for managing workplace bullying cases, as it identifies high-risk work situations and contributing individual factors.
Originality/value
This study provides national Irish data on workplace behaviour and ill-treatment following a severe economic recession.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Citation
Hogan, V., Hodgins, M., Lewis, D., Maccurtain, S., Mannix-McNamara, P. and Pursell, L. (2020), "The prevalence of ill-treatment and bullying at work in Ireland", International Journal of Workplace Health Management, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 245-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-09-2018-0123
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited