Preventing workplace mobbing and bullying with effective organizational consultation, policies, and legislation.

TLDR

Workplace mobbing and bullying, a recently recognized problem, harms employee well‑being and erodes organizational productivity, absenteeism, turnover, legal costs, and reputation, and while the U.S. lacks specific legislation, policy development is seen as a key preventive strategy. Many organizations are partnering with consultants to craft policies that prevent mobbing/bullying and promote high‑care work environments.

Abstract

Workplace mobbing or workplace bullying has only recently entered the lexicon of the American workplace. Although its impact is devastating to the health and well-being of individuals, organizations also experience its effects in terms of loss of productivity, absenteeism, turnover, legal costs, and negative publicity. Legislation and policy development are 2 key initiatives that, used wisely, can help prevent such mobbing and bullying. Although the United States currently has no legislation addressing workplace abuse, it is anticipated that bullying and mobbing will be the next legislative front for the protection of workers and the improvement of workplace culture. Today, many organizations are working with consultants to develop policies to prevent bulling/mobbing and to foster high-care work environments. A template for developing effective antimobbing/ antibullying organizational policies is provided.