Conflicts, Workplace Bullying and Burnout Problems among Municipal Employees

Abstract

The psychosocial workplace environment among the municipal employees of a Finnish town with 57,000 inhabitants was investigated. The prevalence of both self-experienced and observed cases of conflicts, burnout, and workplace harassment (bullying) was measured. Altogether, 1,961 employees (1,491 women and 309 men) whose mean age was 42.6 yr. (SD = 9.8) participated in the study. Sex, age, and workplace differences were found. Of the respondents, 27% had experienced difficult or extreme conflicts, 29% experienced burnout, 50% had seen at least one colleague experience burnout, 16% felt they had been bullied, and 37% had seen a colleague being bullied at work. Men reported experiencing more conflicts than women. The frequency of reporting burnout symptoms and bullying was associated with age. Strong correlations were found among the various problem areas.