Workplace bullying as an antecedent to job insecurity and intention to leave: a 6‐month prospective study

TLDR

Workplace bullying affects up to 15 % of employees and is considered a major risk factor for work exclusion. The study examined whether bullying predicts increased job insecurity and intention to leave over six months in a random sample of 734 workers. Bullying was found to raise job insecurity and turnover intentions, leaving employees uncertain about job permanence and at risk of exclusion, underscoring the need to address these outcomes.

Abstract

Workplace bullying is a severe problem in contemporary working life, affecting up to 15 per cent of employees. Among the detrimental outcomes of bullying, it is even postulated as a major risk factor for exclusion from work. In support of this claim, the current study demonstrates that exposure to bullying behaviour predicts an increase in both levels of job insecurity and intention to leave over a 6‐month time lag, among a random sample of N orth S ea workers ( n = 734). The findings suggest that bullied employees are insecure about the permanence and content of their job, and they may be at risk of turnover and exclusion from working life. It is recommended that these outcomes are taken into consideration when incidences of workplace bullying are addressed.