Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Towards Reducing the Harm: Workplace Bullying as Workplace Corruption—A Critical Review

  • Published:
Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Workplace bullying and workplace corruption are both disturbing workplace phenomena. However, despite considerable research into both, there remains insufficient understanding of either, including scant recognition that, at times, they may intersect. A critical review of what have been hitherto quite separate literatures is undertaken for the purpose of developing a research agenda that recognises the potential areas of overlap. Rather than isolating and distinguishing the two constructs, or attempting to link or explain their complex causes, secondary analysis of the respective literatures is critically undertaken to showcase the possible overlaps that can exist. What is presented is evidence from the literature that, sometimes, acts of workplace bullying are also acts of corruption, and have rarely been recognised as such previously. Recognising this overlap is intended to encourage the emergence of a new, and much needed, research agenda. Increased understanding of both these harmful workplace phenomena can then emerge to make our workplaces safer—for employees, employers, and the organisations that employ them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. It is beyond the scope of this analysis to explore what those more informed responses might be; that has been dealt with elsewhere (Vickers 2013).

  2. It is not my purpose to present a comparative analysis of corruption legislation around the world; just to persuade readers that, sometimes, acts of bullying can also comprise acts of corruption.

  3. Those oblivious to wrongdoing can exist in organisations, but are unlikely to remain unknowing, especially if bullying and/or corrupt behaviours continue over extended periods of time. For this analysis, I will restrict my remarks here to those that do know, and stand by and do nothing.

References

  • Ackroyd, S. (2009). Even More Misbehaviour? Presentation at The Centre of Management and Organisation Studies. Sydney: University of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Afsana, K. (2004). The tremendous cost of seeking hospital obstetric care in Bangladesh. Reproductive Health Matters, 12(24), 171–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agervold, M. (2007). Bullying at work. A discussion of definitions and prevalence, based on an empirical study. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 48, 161–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anand, V., Ashforth, B. E., & Joshi, M. (2005). Business as usual: the acceptance and perpetuation of corruption in organizations. The Academy of Management Executive, 19(4), 9–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson, L. M., & Pearson, C. M. (1999). Tit for tat? The spiralling effect of incivility in the workplace. Academy of Management Review, 24(43), 452–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashforth, B., Gioia, D. A., Robinson, S. L., & Treviño, L. K. (2008). Re-viewing organizational corruption. The Academy of Management Review, 33(3), 670–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baillien, E., Neyens, I., & De Witte, H. (2008). Organizational, team related and job related risk factors for bullying, violence and sexual harassment in the workplace: a qualitative study. International Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 13(2), 132–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barling, J., Dupré, K. E., & Kelloway, E. K. (2009). Predicting workplace aggression and violence. Annual Review of Psychology, 60(1), 671–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R., & Neuman, J. (1998). Workplace aggression—the iceberg beneath the tip of workplace violence: evidence on its forms, frequency and targets. Public Administration Quarterly, 21, 446–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjorkvist, K., Osterman, K., & Hjelt-Back, M. (1994). Aggression among university employees. Aggressive Behaviour, 20, 173–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boddy, C. R. (2006). The dark side of management decisions: organisational psychopaths. Management decisions, 44(10), 1461–1475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowie, V. (2002). Defining violence at work: A new typology. In M. Gill, B. Fisher, & V. Bowie (Eds.), Violence at Work: Causes, Patterns and Prevention (pp. 1–20). Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budd, T. (1999). Violence at work: Findings from the British crime survey. London: Home Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buscaglia, E. (2001). An analysis of judicial corruption and its causes: an objective governing-based approach. International Review of Law and Economics, 21, 233–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, C. F. (1999). When managers mediate: stuck in the middle with you. Dispute Resolution Journal, 54(3), 65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawn, J., Cowie, H., & Ananiadou, K. (2003). Perceptions and experience of workplace bullying in five different working populations. Aggressive Behavior, 29(6), 489–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Cruz, P., & Noronha, E. (2010). Protecting my interests: HRM and targets’ coping with workplace bullying. The Qualitative Report, 15(3), 507–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deflem, M. (1995). Corruption, law and justice: a conceptual clarification. Journal of Criminal Justice, 23(3), 243–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • den Nieuwenboer, N. A., & Kaptein, M. (2008). Spiraling down into corruption: a dynamic analysis of the social identity processes that cause corruption in organizations to grow. Journal of Business Ethics, 83(2), 133–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowden, C., & Tellier, C. (2004). Predicting work-related stress in correctional officers: a meta-analysis. Journal of Criminal Justice, 32, 31–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, M., & Sperry, L. (2007). Workplace mobbing: individual and family health consequences. The Family Journal, 15(4), 398–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einarsen, S. (1999). The nature and causes of bullying at work. International Journal of Manpower, 20(1/2), 16–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Einarsen, S. E., Hoel, H., Zapf, D., & Cooper, C. L. (2003). The concept of bullying at work: the European tradition. In S. Einarsen, H. Hoel, D. Zapf, & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Bullying and emotional abuse in the workplace: International Perspectives in Research and Practice. London: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ensor, T. (2004). Informal payments for health care in transition economies. Social Science & Medicine, 58, 237–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, G. A. (1999). Aggression in clinical settings: Nurses’ views - a follow-up study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 29(3), 532–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felson, R. B. (2000). A social psychological approach to interpersonal aggression. In V. B. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.), Aggression and Violence: An Introductory Text (pp. 9–22). Boston/London: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferris, P. (2004). A preliminary typology of organizational response to allegation of workplace bullying: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. British Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 32(3), 389–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, P. J. (1999). Why compassion counts! Journal of Management Inquiry, 8(2), 127–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, A. G., & Ravilson, F. M. (1989). Overt integrity tests versus personality-based measures of delinquency: an empirical comparison. Journal of Business and Psychology, 3, 269–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, T. (2004). Bully them to make them leave. International Herald Tribune, 8 September, p 11.

  • Griffin, R. W., & Lopez, Y. P. (2005). “Bad behaviour” in organizatins: a review and typology for future research. Journal of Management, 31, 988–1005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallberg, L. R.-M., & Strandmark, M. K. (2006). Health consequences of workplace bullying: experiences from the perspective of employees in the public service sector. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 1(2), 109–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hecker, T. E. (2007). Workplace mobbing: a discussion for librarians. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 33(4), 439–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert, S. (1998). Police subculture reconsidered. Criminology, 36, 343–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heyneman, S. P. (2004). Education and corruption. International Journal of Educational Development, 24(6), 37–648.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillard, J. R. (2009). Workplace mobbing: Are they really out to get your patient? Current Psychiatry, 8(4), 45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hindess, B. (2004). Corruption and democracy in Australia. Canberra: Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirigoyen, M.-F. (2005). Stalking the Soul: Emotional Abuse and the Erosion of Identity. New York: Helen Marx Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hockley, C. (2003). The impact of workplace violence on third party victims: a mental health perspective. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 2(2), 108–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoel, H., & Cooper, C. (2000). Destructive conflict and bullying at work. In University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology Report (pp. 1–29). Manchester: University of Manchester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoel, H., Cooper, C., & Faragher, B. (2001). The experience of bullying in Great Britain: the impact of organizational status. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10(4), 443–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoel, H., Zapf, D., & Cooper, C. (2002). Workplace bullying and stress. Research in Occupational Stress and Well Being, 2(1), 293–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC). (2008). Good practice, good business: Eliminating discrimination and harassment from your workplace, Canberra, Australia. http://www.hreoc.gov.au/info_for_employers/fact/workplace.html,1830hrs. Viewed: 29 September 2008.

  • Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M. H., Jackson, D., & Wilkes, L. (2006a). “They stand you in a corner and you are not to speak”: Nurses tell of abusive indoctrination in work teams dominated by bullies. Contemporary Nurse, 21(2), 228–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M. H., Jackson, D., & Wilkes, L. (2006b). “Like wolves in a pack”: stories of predatory alliances of bullies in Nursing’. Journal of Management and Organisation, 12(3), 235–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, M., Wilkes, L., Vickers, M. H., & Jackson, D. (2008a). The development and validation of a bullying inventory for the nursing workplace. Nurse Researcher, 15(2), 19–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, M., Jackson, D., Wilkes, L., & Vickers, M. H. (2008b). A New model of bullying in the nursing workplace: organizational characteristics as critical antecedents. Advances in Nursing Science, 31(2), 60–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, M., Vickers, M. H., Jackson, D., & Wilkes, L. (2009). The worse you behave, the more you seem to be rewarded! Bullying in nursing as organizational corruption. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 21(3), 213–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, M., Wilkes, L., Jackson, D., & Vickers, M. H. (2010). Integrating individual, work group, and organisational level factors: testing a multidimensional model of bullying in the nursing workplace. Journal of Nursing Management, 18, 173–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim, J., & Majoor, J. (2002). Corruption in the health care system: the circumstantial evidence. Australian Health Review, 25(2), 20–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). (1998). ICAC Act. Sydney, Australia. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/icaca1988442. Viewed: August 1 2012.

  • Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). (2012). About corruption: What is corruption? Sydney, Australia. http://www.icac.nsw.gov.au. Viewed: August 1 2012.

  • Jamieson, K. M. (1994). The Organization of Corporate Crime: Dynamics of Antitrust Violation. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janson, G. R., Carney, J. V., Hazler, R. J., & Oh, I. (2009). Bystanders’ reactions to witnessing repetitive abuse experiences. Journal of Counselling and Development, 87(3), 319–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kivimäki, M., & Virtanen, M. (2003). Workplace bullying and the risk of cardiovascular disease and depression. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60, 779–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambsdorff, J. G. (2002). Making corrupt deals: contracting in the shadow of the law. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 48, 221–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. (2002). Gendered workplace bullying in the restructured UK Civil Service. Personnel Review, 31(1/2), 205–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, S. E., & Orford, J. (2005). Women’s Experiences of workplace bullying: changes in social relationships. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 15(1), 29–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leymann, H. (1996). The content and development of mobbing at work. European Journal of Work and Organisational Psychology, 5(2), 165–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindgreen, A. (2004). Corruption and unethical behavior: report on a set of Danish guidelines. Journal of Business Ethics, 51(1), 31–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linstead, S. (2007). The Comedy of Ethics: The New York four, the duty of care and organizational bystanding. In R. Westwood & C. Rhodes (Eds.), Humour, Work and Organization (pp. 204–232). London & New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, Y. (2002). Corruption and organziation in Asian management systems. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 19(2), 405–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutgen Sandvik, P. (2009). The eye of the beholder: target and witness accounts of adult bullying at work. Management Communication Quarterly, 23(2), 258–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutgen-Sandvik, P. (2003). The communicative cycle of employee emotional abuse: generation and regeneration of workplace mistreatment. Management Communication Quarterly, 16(4), 471–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutgen-Sandvik, P. (2006). Take this job and…: quitting and other forms of resistance to workplace bullying. Communication Monographs, 73(4), 406–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutgen-Sandvik, P., & McDermott, V. (2008). The constitution of employee-abusive organizatioins: a communication flows theory. Communication Theory, 18, 304–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutgen-Sandvik, P., Tracy, S. J., & Alberts, J. K. (2007). Burned by bullying in the American workplace: prevalence, perception, degree and impact. Journal of Management Studies, 44, 837–862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mann, R. (1996). Psychological abuse in the workplace. In P. McCarthy, M. Sheehan, & W. Wilkie (Eds.), Bullying: From the Backyard to the Boardroom (pp. 83–92). Sydney: Millennium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marjit, S., & Shi, H. (1998). On controlling crime with corrupt officials. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 34, 163–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew, C., McCarthy, P., Chappell, D., Quinlan, M., Barker, M., & Sheehan, M. (2004). Measuring the extent of impact from occupational violence and bullying on traumatised workers. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 16(3), 117–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, P. (2003). Bullying at work: A postmodern experience. In A. Schorr, W. Campbell, & M. Schenk (Eds.), Communication Research and Media Science in Europe (pp. 231–243). Berlin: de Gruyter.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormack, R. J. (1996). Police perceptions and the norming of institutional corruption. Policing and Society, 6, 239–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen, E. G., & Einarsen, S. (2002). Basic assumptions and symptoms of post-traumatic stress among victims of bullying at work. European Journal Work and Organisational Psychology, 11(1), 87–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moayed, F. A., Daraiseh, N., Shell, R., & Salem, S. (2006). Workplace bullying: a systematic review of risk factors and outcomes. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomic Science, 7(3), 311–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Namie, G., & Namie, R. (2003). Anti-bullying advocacy: an unrealized EA opportunity. Journal of Employee Assistance, 33(2), 9–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuman, W. L. (2011). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th Edition), Allyn & Bacon, Sydney, Australia.

  • Noon, M., & Delbridge, R. (1993). News from behind my hand: gossip in organizations. Organization Studies, 14, 23–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortega, A., Hogh, A., Pejtersen, J. H., & Olsen, O. (2009). International Archive of Occupational and Environmental Health, 82, 417–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipian, A. (2007). Corruption in higher education: conceptual approaches and measurement techniques. Research in Comparative and International Education, 2(4), 313–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto, J., Lean, C. R., & Pil, F. K. (2008). Corrupt organizations or organizations of corrupt individuals? Two types of organization-level corruption. The Academy of Management Review, 33(3), 685–709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich, M. R. (2002). Reshaping the state from above, from within, from below: implications for public health. Social Science & Medicine, 54, 1669–1675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, S. L., & Greenberg, J. (1998). Employees behaving badly: Dimensions, Determinants, and dilemmas in the study of workplace deviance. In C. L. Cooper & D. M. Rousseau (Eds.), Trends in Organizational Behavior (Vol. 5, pp. 1–30). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salin, D. (2003a). Bullying and organisational politics in competitive and rapidly changing work environments. International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 4, 35–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salin, D. (2003b). Ways of explaining workplace bullying: a review of enabling, motivating and precipitating structures and processes in the work environment. Human Relations, 56(10), 1213–1232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schat, A. C. H., & Kelloway, E. K. (2003). Reducing the adverse consequences of workplace aggression and violence: the buffering effects of organizational support. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 8(2), 110–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L. W. (1985). Three models of organizational corruption in agencies of social control. Social Problems, 27, 478–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sissener, T. K. (2001). Anthropological perspectives on corruption. Working Paper Series, Development Studies and Human Rights, WP 2001: 5. http://www.cmi.no. Viewed: 5 August 2012.

  • Sperry, L., & Duffy, M. (2009). Workplace mobbing: family dynamics and therapeutic considerations. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 37(5), 433–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strandmark, K. M., & Hallberg, L. R.-M. (2006). Health consequences of workplace bullying: experiences of employees in the public service sector. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Wellbeing, 1, 109–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tracy, S. J., Lutgen-Sandvik, P., & Alberts, J. K. (2006). Nightmares, demons, and slaves. Management Communication Quarterly, 20, 148–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trevino, L. K., Butterfield, K. D., & McCabe, D. L. (1998). Ethical decision making in organizaitons: a person-situation interactionist model. Academy of Management Review, 11, 601–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twemlow, S., Sacco, F. C., & Williams, P. (1996). Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 60(3), 296–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varhama, L. M., & Bjorkqvist, K. (2004). Conflicts, workplace bullying and burnout: problems among municipal employees. Psychological Reports, 94, 116–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vartia, M. (2001). Consequences of workplace bullying with respect to the well-being of its targets and the observers of bullying. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment Health, 27(1), 63–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vega, G., & Comer, D. (2005). Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can break your spirit: bullying in the workplace. Journal of Business Ethics, 58(1), 101–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, M. H. (2001). Bullying as unacknowledged organizational evil: a researcher’s story. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 13(4), 207–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, M. H. (2008). Why people with MS are really leaving Work: From a clayton’s choice to an ugly passage – A phenomenological study. Review of Disability studies: An International Journal, 4(4), 43–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, M. H. (2009). Bullying, Disability and Work: A Case Study of Workplace Bullying. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management, 4(3), 255–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, M. H. (2013) Three Stories – And a Writer’s Tale: A Creative Writing Case Study of Workplace Bullying, Organization Management Journal, First Person, (B), 10: 1–9. doi:10.1080/15416518.2013.801747.

  • Waite, D., & Allen, D. (2003). Corruption and abuse of power in educational administration. The Urban Review, 35(4), 281–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Work Health and Safety Act (WHSA) (2011), National, Commonwealth Government of Australia, (C2011A00137), http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011A00137: Viewed: 20 March 2013.

  • Yamada, D. C. (2000). The phenomenon of “workplace bullying” and the need for status-blind hostile work environment protection. Georgetown Law Journal, 88, 475–536.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zapf, D. (1999). Organisational, work group related and personal causes of mobbing/bullying at work. International Journal of Manpower, 20(1/2), 70–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zapf, D., & Einarsen, S. (2005). Mobbing at Work: Escalated Conflicts in Organizations. In S. Fox & P. E. Spector (Eds.), Counterproductive Work Behavior: Investigations of Actors and Targets (pp. 237–270). Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, University of Western Sydney, Building ED, Room G.207, Parramatta Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW, 1797, Australia

    Margaret H. Vickers

Authors
  1. Margaret H. Vickers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret H. Vickers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vickers, M.H. Towards Reducing the Harm: Workplace Bullying as Workplace Corruption—A Critical Review. Employ Respons Rights J 26, 95–113 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-013-9231-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-013-9231-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation