What You Need to Know About Mobbing (Psychological Harassment in the Workplace)

Behaviors applied by one or more individuals in a work environment to incapacitate, intimidate, or distance a specific person or persons are referred to as mobbing (psychological harassment in the workplace). Mobbing is a deliberate, malicious attitude manifested through verbal harassment, exclusion, demotivation, and belittlement. The ultimate goal is often to make the person unable to endure and leave their job.

These behaviors, which create negative psychological, social, and physiological effects on the targeted individual, can be considered a crime if certain conditions are met. The elements required for the acceptance of a mobbing accusation are as follows: (Supreme Court of Appeals, 9th Civil Chamber, Decision No. 2017 / 8155)

*The harassment applied must be psychological.

*It must cause the employee to lose their trust and respect for themselves.

*It must be systematically repeated.

*It must have been ongoing for a long time.

*The employee must not have the means to defend themselves against this harassment, or if they do, they cannot use them.

Briefly About Mobbing (Psychological Harassment in the Workplace)

*According to research, white-collar workers are more frequently subjected to psychological harassment.

*Creative or competent individuals may be mobbed because they are perceived as a threat to the positions of other employees.

*Mobbing, also referred to as psychological terror in the workplace, can be applied in three different ways:

-Vertical mobbing: A form of harassment applied by higher-level employees to those in lower positions.

-Horizontal mobbing: Psychological harassment methods applied by employees in the same or similar positions against each other.

-Diagonal mobbing: Employees subjecting their managers to psychological harassment.

*Mobbing can lead to issues such as high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, panic attacks, attention deficits, relationship problems, sexual dysfunction, and stomach disorders, in addition to harming an individual's professional integrity and success.

*There are people who may engage in mobbing just to add color and movement to routine workdays.

*You can be subjected to mobbing in any sector, including education and healthcare.

Behaviors of Mobbing (Psychological Harassment in the Workplace)

*The times the person comes to work and leaves, the time spent during breaks, and phone calls are closely monitored.

*The employee is assigned tasks that are far below or above their skills and abilities or outside their area of expertise.

*Derogatory comments are made about the person's appearance, speaking style, or clothing.

*Disputes with colleagues become more frequent.

*The person is intentionally not invited to company celebrations and similar events.

*Rumors are spread about the employee.

*The individual is asked to do much more work than they can handle.

*The employee receives a lower salary than those performing lower-level tasks.

*When the person approaches others, the conversation immediately stops or the topic is changed.

*The individual is encouraged to react uncontrollably by colleagues or managers.

*The employee's suggestions regarding work are rejected or left unanswered.

*The individual is made to feel that they are being monitored in every task they perform.

*The individual is excluded from significant developments and news regarding work.

*The employee's verbal or written questions and requests are ignored.

If You Think You Are a Victim of Mobbing

*Share the situation you are experiencing and how it makes you feel with the authorities in your institution or company.

*Clearly warn the person who is mobbing you, telling them to stop their behavior.

*It would be beneficial to have a witness who is knowledgeable about the issue and can support you.

*If you have trusted individuals in the work environment, you can share your situation with them. There may be others who are complaining about the same issue, and making a collective complaint can be more effective.

*Document everything related to the harassment; the words spoken, the rumors spread, the excessive workload imposed on you, and the events you were not invited to despite normally being expected to attend.

*If mobbing is severe and necessary, consult a psychologist or psychiatrist and request a written report on the effects of the harassment you have experienced.

*Be sure to report the person who is applying psychological harassment to someone or a unit that is higher in authority and position than them. If you are being harassed by your manager, report it to the board of directors or human resources.