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Bullying statistics...

from:
www.bullying.com.au

 

Some workers are exposed to many bullies in the same workplace. Thus, we could make a guesstimate from the current research that an average of 15% of people are being regularly bullied in the workplace at any time.

Look at this example:

There is a shortage of trained nursing staff in Australia. This survey was conducted by the Australian Nurses Federation, 2000. The main question was, ' Do these things happen in your workplace?' The results indicate that:

•  84% experienced intimidating behaviour

• 73% had an oppressive and unhappy workplace

• 65% had a fear of speaking up

• 43% had pressure of impossible targets

• 40 % had abusive language

• 38% hurtful teasing and jokes

• 23% physically threatening behaviour

• 15 % assault

The main sources of bullying were:

• the manager/supervisor 66.7%,

• fellow workers 45.2%,

• patients 29.8% and

• doctors 7%.

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1. Cost to the Target:
   
   The Australian Council of Trade Unions (1999) campaign showed that
   
   73% of respondents felt stress as a result of the bullying,

2. 67% felt angry,

3. 59% felt depressed,

4. 48% had sleep difficulties,

5. 45% had headaches and felt helpless,

6. 29% felt fearful,

7. 24% had stomach problems,

8. 60% said it affected their home and social life,

9. 44% took time off work due to the bullying,

10. 39% took sick leave, 8% used recreation leave,

11. 6% took leave without pay,

12. 4% received workers compensation.
     

Many people are badly affected by bullying. For some it will equate with a short nasty experience, like witnessing a fatal accident.

For others it will feel like being a prisoner of war. Victims lose concentration and motivation at work. They can become emotionally affected.

Some feel stuck and powerless, others feel extreme fear and anger. After numerous attempts to be heard or obtain assistance to stop the bullying, many are forced to exit their toxic environment because their organization is negligent or unable to protect them.
 

Bullying causes incredible psychological and physical damage. Like other traumas, the domino effect damages everything in their lives.

Many become extremely ill and some die as a result of the bullying.

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Cost to the Organisation:

Most organisations do not realise the damage and costs associated with bullying. These include obvious and hidden costs.

Overt damage includes workcare costs, because many victims experience physical and psychological health difficulties, (76% of victims experience a post traumatic stress disorder), legal costs, time lost in preparing or attending court cases and replacement of staff.

Covert costs include costs of internal complaints, mediation, adverse publicity, brain drain, lower morale amongst staff, absenteeism, and reduction in efficiency, productivity and profitability, loss of accumulated wisdom and experience, retaliation and the poor public image which attracts less capable workers.

According to the Workplace Bullying Project Team, Griffiths University, (2001), a recent impact and cost assessment calculated that workplace bullying costs Australian employers between $6 and 13 billion dollars every year.

When hidden and lost opportunity costs are considered, using a very conservative prevalence estimate of the extent of the bullying (3.5% rate based on Leymann 1997, Scandinavia). Between $17 and 36 billion dollars per year is lost when a somewhat higher estimate of 15% prevalence (mid range between estimate of a number of a very large surveys in the U.S.A and U.K. ) is applied.

The number of victims can be assessed at 350,000 based on the first estimate and 1.5 million workers based on the second calculation.

In comparison the costs of intervention programs and prevention strategies are marginal. These cost estimates are limited to the business sector, and do not include costs to family and personal life, the impact on the wider community such as the product, quality control, poor decision-making, customer services or corrupt practices.
 

from:
www.bullying.com.au