The general levels of conflict and bullying in Norwegian working life have been characterised by a high degree of stability over the last 20 years. However, a new report published by Statistics Norway in 2007 reveals considerable occupational differences in relation to these aspects of working life. These new data are mainly based on the latest ‘Level of Living Survey’ for 2006. A recent trend is for more conflicts among women than men in the workplace.
Research uncovers occupational differences
Conflicts and bullying at work have been frequently discussed in the Norwegian media over the past year. When these topics are presented, the research often offers an insight into single cases of conflict or bullying, rather than presenting an overall picture of the situation in workplaces. In 2007, Statistics Norway (Statistisk sentralbyrå, SSB) published a report (in Norwegian) on conflicts, bullying, harassment and violence in Norwegian working life, which is mainly based on the Level of Living Survey 2006; the report has also incorporated data from the ‘Level of Living’ surveys from 1996, 2000 and 2003, and work environment surveys from 1989 and 1993.
Every three years, the working conditions of employees in Norway are assessed by an official national survey entitled ‘Level of Living Survey: Working Conditions’, the latest of these being the 2006 survey (NO0711019D). Interviews with almost 10,000 workers as part of the 2006 survey were carried out by telephone, representing a response rate of 67%. The survey data reveal considerable occupational differences in the degree to which workers experience adverse social interactions at the workplace.
Survey findings
Conflicts
Figure 1 shows that more workers experience conflicts with superiors than conflicts with co- workers. In 2006, the number of workers experiencing conflict with superiors has returned to almost 40%, having been closer to 30% over the last 10 years.
Traditionally, men and women have reported the same levels of conflict at work, but since 2003 conflicts have been more common among women (Figure 2). For both sexes, conflicts are least common among workers under the age of 25 years. This is probably related to the fact that younger workers on average have fewer weekly working hours.
The Level of Living Survey 2006 reveals that, with reference to the Norwegian Standard Classification of Occupations (740Kb PDF), some occupational groups stand out as being particularly exposed to conflict in the workplace. Teaching professionals most frequently report having to deal with conflict at work (about 65%). Life science and health professionals and associate professionals also record a high incidence of conflict in their line of work. More than six out of 10 medical doctors report experiencing conflict at work often or sometimes. Conflicts are also frequently recorded by stationary-plant and related operators, public service administrative professionals, and teaching associate professionals (about 50%). Within other occupational groups, conflicts occur less often; only 22% of agricultural, forestry and fishery workers and 29% of general managers of small enterprises experience conflicts with colleagues and/or superiors.
Bullying
The number of workers who report being bullied by colleagues has remained stable at about 2%–3% since 1989. The 2006 survey also revealed that 1.4% of workers feel bullied by their superior. In comparison with the findings on conflicts, no indications are apparent of any significant gender or age differences associated with such conflict situations. However, several notable occupational differences have emerged. Among drivers and mobile-plant operators, almost 9% report being exposed to bullying. Nearly 6% of workers report exposure to bullying in services and elementary occupations, such as cleaners, doorkeepers and refuse collectors. Other occupational groups recording a high prevalence of bullying (about 4%–5%) include other crafts and related trades workers, customer services agents, engineering and science associate professionals, public service administrative professionals, and machine operators and assemblers. On the other hand, bullying seems to be almost non-existent among some occupational groups. For example, less than 1% of life science and health professionals and general managers of small enterprises report exposure to bullying at work.
It is interesting to note that the occupational groups experiencing the highest levels of conflict at work do not generally report a particularly high incidence of bullying. Bullying is often thought to originate from work-related conflicts, and one would therefore expect a higher risk of bullying in workplaces with a high prevalence of conflicts. However, most of the time, conflicts do not result in bullying. The consequences of conflicts depend on how each conflict situation is handled. According to SSB, the main reason why some occupational groups are more characterised by bullying than others stems from the higher risk that conflicts will escalate to cases of bullying within these groups than among other occupational groups.
Commentary
The overall level of bullying in Norwegian workplaces is low, but considerable occupational differences have emerged in relation to bullying. Although conflicts may be a precursor for bullying, the available data show no immediate connection between the two in terms of occupation. The different levels of bullying may in fact be a consequence of how well conflicts are managed within the different occupational groups. It is important to be aware of this factor when referring to occupational groups in this degree of detail, as several of the groups are relatively small. Therefore, some degree of uncertainty is associated with the results on workplace conflicts and bullying.
Reference and further information
Normann, T.M. and Rønning, E., ‘Konflikter, mobbing, trakassering og vold i arbeidslivet’ [Conflicts, bullying, harassment and violence in Norwegian working life], in Samfunnsspeilet, No. 4, 2007.
For more information at EU level on this subject, see the topic report Violence, bullying and harassment in the workplace (TN0406TR01).
Trine Eiken, National Institute of Occupational Health
