News: Performance Management
'Bullying more harmful than sexual harassment'
13 March 2008
Managers do more harm by bulling their employees than if they were sexually harassing them, new research claims.
Academics in Canada have compared 110 studies of employees' experiences of sexual harassment with those of workplace bullying, reports Management Issues.
The studies focused on the effects the undesirable behaviour had on workers' stress, anger and anxiety levels and their mental and physical health, the news provider said.
Bullying included persistent criticism of work, reminding employees' of mistakes, spreading gossip, insulting employees' habits or private life and ignoring and excluding workers.
While both bullying and sexual harassment were found to have a negative impact on work environments, the researchers discovered bullying had the more detrimental consequences.
Lead author of the report Sandy Hershcovis, of the University of Manitoba, explained: "As sexual harassment becomes less acceptable in society, organizations may be more attuned to helping victims, who may therefore find it easier to cope."
"In contrast, non-violent forms of workplace aggression such as incivility and bullying are not illegal, leaving victims to fend for themselves."
Meanwhile, recent research by Investors in People found that less than a third of UK employees have complete trust in their managers.
