The Mobbing Process From The Victims’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Mobbing is an organizational issue that is increasingly being recognized as important in today's world. In the increasingly competitive business environment, the concept of employees with job satisfaction is fading due to mobbing, and skilled workers are becoming unproductive. Regardless of culture, age, educational level, or position, every employee can fall victim to mobbing. The consequences of mobbing not only affect the employee but also the organization and the national economy. The aim of this study is to examine the entire mobbing process through the eyes of 10 different victims who have started legal action and identify the types of perpetrators perceived by the victims. In this context, the types of mobbing and attacks they were subjected to, the physical and psychological consequences of mobbing on the victims, the reactions of other employees during the mobbing process, and the evidence they collected for their mobbing cases have been examined. The study concluded that all of the victims were subjected to communication-oriented attacks. Other types of attacks included those targeting social relationships, reputation, and physical health. All the victims had experienced vertical mobbing. The trigger for mobbing was mostly conflict. Victims generally did not receive support from management or bystanders during the mobbing process. The types of perpetrators perceived by the victims were narcissistic, choleric and megalomaniac. The physical and psychological consequences of mobbing on the victims were severe. The most common physical effects were stomach disorders and eating disorders. The most common psychological effects were bruxism (teeth grinding) and insomnia, both triggered by stress. Mobbing led to an environment within the organization characterized by tension, fear, low productivity, and weak communication among employees. The evidence collected by the victims for their mobbing cases was described in detail for each case. This evidence included photocopies of official assignment documents for victims who were relocated away from their workplace, all official documents containing mobbing elements, photos showing the physical working conditions of the victims, photocopies of unanswered petitions, photocopies of unjustly received warnings or penalties, doctor’s reports documenting psychosomatic disorders, and assignment letters aimed solely at assigning the victim tasks outside of their area of expertise