“ Young professionals! Say no to bullies!!!”
2. Mobbing
Definitions
Mobbing, bullying, and mental molestation are just a few terms used for describing longlasting and persistent harassment, or threats which employees may experience from their colleagues, or employers.
The International Labour Organization defines mobbing as offensive and revengeful behaviour expressed through violent, malicious, or humiliating attempts to hurt an employee, or a group of employees who are ultimately subject to harassment. Mobbing includes constant negative remarks, or criticism, gossiping or spreading false information, and it drives harassed persons to seclusion.
The symptoms of mobbing behaviour
The list of features that can be referred to as mobbing behaviours was created by a Swedish doctor and psychologist Heinz Leymann, who was the first person to use the term mobbing in the context of professional situations and working environment. On the basis of his study, Leymann distinguished 45 types of behaviour which were classified in 5 categories. According to Leymann, it is enough to be exposed to only one of the classified types of behaviour so that the situation can be referred to as mobbing.
The actions which have negative impact on communication processes at work: � Restraining and impeding employees when they want to give their opinion � Constant interruptions � Reacting to the opinions and remarks in a raised voice, shouting, invectives, insults and threats � Constant criticism of the performed work, professional and private life � Harassment over the phone � Written and oral threats � Humiliating and insulting gestures, looking at the victim in an outwardly negative manner � Allusions, not being direct
The actions which have negative impact on social relations at work: � Avoidance of conversations with the victim � Isolating the workplace of an employee, implementing a ban on contacting colleagues � Implementing a ban on contacting the victim � Ignoring, intentional negligence of the victim in the working environment, being indifferent towards the victim
The actions which have negative impact on the perception of a person at work: � Slandering, gossiping, creating offensive nicknames � Attempting to ridicule and discredit the victim with reference to different spheres of life � Making fun of the victim’ s private life � Mocking the victim’ s way of walking, speaking, gesturing and facial expressions � Attacking the victim’ s political views, religion, worldview � Attacking and mocking the victim’ s nationality, skin colour, and sexual orientation � Mocking the victim’ s disability, or any victim’ s peculiar features � Suggesting mental disease, referring the victim to diagnostic tests � Addressing the victim with offensive, or humiliating terms � Making sexual proposals
' Informational and workshop guide for mobbing, discrimination and sexual harassment '
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