Though men and women are at a similar risk of being bullied in the workplace, they may have different reactions to it. A study published in the journal Labour Economics explored absenteeism due to workplace bullying and found that men are more likely to leave the workplace in response to bullying.
The study’s authors say workplace bullies may make it difficult for an employee to do their work properly, hand more interesting or rewarding tasks to other employees, or repeatedly change an employee’s work.
How Men and Women React to Workplace Bullying
Researchers studied 3,182 people who worked in a variety of public and private organizations. Participants provided data to the 2006 Bullying Cohort Study, which was conducted in Denmark, and answered the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised.
Researchers analyzed participants’ absentee history and mental health. They found men were more likely than women to leave the labor market due to bullying. Bullying also negatively affected male victims’ salary, suggesting workplace bullying may cause them to be overlooked for promotions and other opportunities to make more money. Women who experienced bullying took double the sick leave of non-bullied workers and were more likely to use antidepressants. Men were more likely than women to report physical intimidation.
The results remained consistent even when researchers controlled for factors such as attachment to the labor market, personality, and previous history of sick leave. The study’s authors suggest future research could explore if some people are repeatedly targeted for bullying across workplaces.The Mental Health Toll of Workplace Bullying
According to 2010 data from the Workplace Bullying Institute, bullying is four times more prevalent than illegal harassment behavior. Thirty-five percent of American workers report being bullied, and 15% of workers say they have witnessed bullying. Sixty-two percent of workplace bullies are men, and 58% of bullying victims are women.
Previous research has found bullying can cause long-term mental health issues, including posttraumatic stress. Measures to combat workplace bullying receive broad public support. In 2010, 64% of respondents to a Workplace Bullying Institute survey supported a bill designed to combat workplace bullying.
References:
- Bullying makes men leave the labor market. (2016, December 12). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161212101108.htm
- Eriksen, T. L., Hogh, A., & Hansen, Ã M. (2016). Long-term consequences of workplace bullying on sickness absence. Labour Economics, 43, 129-150. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2016.06.008
- Results of the 2010 WBI U.S. workplace bullying surveys. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.workplacebullying.org/wbiresearch/2010-wbi-national-survey/
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