Study examines 'mobbing' at the workplace

Di Pasquale, Verena

Overview

Article

Study examines 'mobbing' at the workplace

Published: 18 August 2002

On 11 June 2002, the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Sozialordnung, BMA) presented Germany's first representative study on 'mobbing'- ie bullying - at the workplace (Der Mobbing-Report - Eine Repräsentativstudie für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland [1], Bärbel Meschkutat, Martina Stackelbeck and Georg Langenhoff, Schriftenreihe der Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, Forschungsbericht Fb 951, Dortmund/Berlin). There had previously been no scientifically-based data available about the extent and structure of mobbing/bullying in Germany. The study was carried out by the Dortmund Institute for Social Research (Sozialforschungsstelle Dortmund, SFS), at the request of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA).[1] http://www.sfs-mobbing-report.de/

In a report published in June 2002, the SFS Institute for Social Research analyses the extent, structure and consequences of 'mobbing' at the workplace - ie bullying and harassment - in Germany. The study indicates that some 2.7% of German workers are currently affected by mobbing. For women, the risk of being 'mobbed' is 75% higher than it is for men.

On 11 June 2002, the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Sozialordnung, BMA) presented Germany's first representative study on 'mobbing'- ie bullying - at the workplace (Der Mobbing-Report - Eine Repräsentativstudie für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bärbel Meschkutat, Martina Stackelbeck and Georg Langenhoff, Schriftenreihe der Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, Forschungsbericht Fb 951, Dortmund/Berlin). There had previously been no scientifically-based data available about the extent and structure of mobbing/bullying in Germany. The study was carried out by the Dortmund Institute for Social Research (Sozialforschungsstelle Dortmund, SFS), at the request of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA).

The research was divided into two stages. First, a survey analysed the extent to which employees are currently affected by mobbing and the factors which increase the risk of being affected by this phenomenon, based on 4,396 telephone interviews. Second, survey data on more than 1,300 employees were collected though written questionnaires examining the process, causes and motives of mobbing.

Extent of mobbing

Mobbing is defined in the research as frequent harassment, 'torment' or discrimination and exclusion at the workplace by colleagues and/or superiors over a relatively long period. Based on this definition, the study found that currently 2.7% of German employees, or more than 800,000 people, are systematically affected by mobbing. Over a period of one year (2000), the percentage stood at 5.5% of all workers. Moreover, during their whole working life one in nine workers (11.3%) had been 'mobbed'.

According to the study, certain factors increase the risk of being mobbed - particularly sex and age, and especially both in combination. For women, the risk of being mobbed is 75% higher than it is for men: currently 3.5% of employed women compared with 2.0% of employed men are affected by mobbing. Even though women make up a smaller share of all employees than men, the number of women affected by mobbing is higher. Of 100 mobbed employees, 58 were women and 42 were men.

Regarding age, it is young workers (under 25 years) who are at the greatest risk of being mobbed (with 3.7% of workers in this group reporting mobbing), followed by older worker of 55 years and above (2.9%) - see table 1 below.

**Table 1. Employees reporting mobbing, by age**
Age	% reporting mobbing
Under 25 years	3.7%
25-34 years	2.6%
35-44 years	2.6%
44-54 years	2.2%
55 years and above	2.9%

Source: Mobbing-Report.

The study found there are no areas where mobbing does not exist, or groups of workers who are not affected. The phenomenon of mobbing occurs among both sexes, within every age and occupational group and within all branches and fields of work. With regard to occupational groups, the highest risk of being mobbed is found amongst 'social occupations' where the risk is 2.8 times higher than average, followed by salespeople and banking and insurance specialists, whose risk is double the average - see table 2 below.

**Table 2. Risk of mobbing, by occupational group**
Occupational group	% of all employees*	% of all cases of mobbing	'Mobbing risk factor'
Social occupations (eg social workers, teachers, educational personnel and those caring for the elderly)	2.45%	6.93%	2.8
Salespeople	2.83%	5.64%	2.0
Banking and insurance specialists	2.02%	3.97%	2.0
Technicians and related occupations	1.32%	2.38%	1.8
Other medical services (eg non-medical practitioners, masseurs/masseuses, nurses, dieticians and receptionists)	4.10%	6.50%	1.6
Accountancy clerks, computer scientists	2.48%	3.75%	1.5
Office occupations, commercial clerks	13.22%	17.55%	1.3

*according to the 1998 Microcensus.

Source: Mobbing-Report.

More than half of all cases of mobbing are committed by an organisational superior (38.2%) or take place when the superior is present together with colleagues (12.8%). The study identifies the 'typical mobber' as a male superior, aged between 35 and 54 years, and long-term employed.

Effects and consequences

According to the study, mobbing has far-reaching effects for the people concerned and could have consequences for their health and private and occupational situation. Of the people surveyed who had been affected by mobbing, a total of 98.7% were reported to be: affected in terms of their work ability; demotivated; suspicious; nervous; insecure; or forced into 'social retreat' and 'inner resignation'. The effects of the mobbing among those affected were that:

43.9% became ill;
30.8% changed their place of work in the establishment where they were employed;
22.5% left their job; and
14.8% were dismissed.

By comparison, of those who had committed the mobbing acts, 11.1% were obliged to change their place of work in the establishment and 8.2% were dismissed. Overall, the consequences for the people affected by mobbing were higher than for the 'mobbers' themselves.

Moreover, the report states, mobbing leads to costs at establishment level through: absence caused by illness; negative effects on quality and productivity; changes in place of work; and dismissals. At national level, social insurance bodies face costs caused by the necessity for medical treatment and early retirement on health grounds. According to the study, 3.1% of the available volume of working time of all people employed in 2000 was affected by mobbing.

Commentary

The study shows that mobbing at the workplace is not a side issue, but a widespread phenomenon. The researchers recommend that this problem should be tackled in an 'offensive' way at establishment level and within society. Although mobbing is not completely avoidable, there are possibilities to reduce the incidence of mobbing at the workplace, by:

reducing the factors which support mobbing;
sensitising the people responsible for this issue at establishment level and training them in dealing with cases of mobbing; and
using instruments which on one hand establish how to deal with mobbing, and on the other have preventive effects - such as works agreements to combat mobbing or clear procedures for dealing with complaints

A focus on the establishment level in dealing with mobbing cases will be useful in practice as there is no specific law on this issue in Germany. So far it has been difficult for people affected by mobbing to prove their case. Overall, the study gives a clear overview of the issue of mobbing in Germany and provides helpful recommendations to prevent mobbing at the workplace. (Verena Di Pasquale, Institute for Economic and Social Research, WSI)

Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.

Eurofound (2002), Study examines 'mobbing' at the workplace, article.