Workplace bullying costs €3bn each year

BULLYING in the workplace is costing businesses an estimated €3 billion each year.

A senior clinical psychologist, Dr Mark Harrold, yesterday warned that the personal cost of the problem was even higher, as up to one in five people who commit suicide are bullied shortly before their death.

Based on a British study on the financial cost of bullying, Dr Harrold said that a conservative view of the extent of the problem in Ireland would suggest it is costing the economy €3 billion each year.

“The personal cost is incalculable,” he said.

Dr Harrold made his remarks during a press conference to announce details of a conference on bullying in the workplace to be held in Dublin on October 4.

The conference entitled “Tackling the Menace” will present national and international research findings to highlight the devastating effect that workplace bullying has on Irish companies. It is estimated that 70% of employees who are bullied change jobs.

“There is a lot of awareness about the problem but not what to do about it,” said Dr Harrold.

Jacinta Kitt, a lecturer at Trinity College Dublin and the keynote speaker at the forthcoming conference, said there was a need to recognise the difference between bullying and tough management and performance evaluation.

“Bullying is quite simply about abuse,” said Ms Kitt.

She claimed the detrimental effects of bullying were not just confined to victims but impacted on the whole workplace environment.

Bullies tend to target competent, effective people who make them feel extremely threatened.

“They are prepared to get rid of an organisation’s best assets,” said Ms Kitt.

“They create terror in the workplace. They have to rise to the top to cover their own inadequacies and will destroy others in the process.”

She also identified the persistent problem of ‘mobbing’, whereby senior managers tend to support the perpetrator rather than the victim when allegations of bullying are made.

Ms Kitt expressed concern about the inadequacy of legislation to protect those who were bullied at work and predicted the failure to provide such protection would make “army deafness (compensation claims) look like chicken-feed.”

Independent Senator Mary Henry expressed concern about the reluctance of the Government to introduce legislation to protect “whistleblowers,” such as those who identified bullies in the workplace.

“People with courage should be given protection,” said Ms Henry.