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Pathways of Job-related Negative Behaviour pp 1–18Cite as

Human Resources as an Important Actor in Workplace Bullying Situations: Where We Have Been and Where We Should Go

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Part of the book series: Handbooks of Workplace Bullying, Emotional Abuse and Harassment ((HWBEAH,volume 2))

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of the human resource professional (HRP) and human resource management (HRM) in workplace bullying, harassment and mobbing. The early 1990s marked a shift in the human resource (HR) function and role as before this time they focused on the fair treatment of employees and the terms and conditions of employment. Globalization and a changing business context influenced the profession’s shift to strategic HR role and with this a focus on firm performance. In this review, we highlight the past international research completed on (1) the history of the HR role as it relates to bullying situations, (2) research on the HR role and their actions in bullying situations, (3) the HR role in prevention and policymaking and (4) the implementation and execution of these policies. We also propose ideas and directions for where to go from here including a realignment of HR roles focusing on employee well-being as an important outcome that moves organizations to reach business goals. We argue this kind of shift should be embraced and supported by the larger HR profession and professional associations and include supports such as training and education. We argue HRM should focus on active prevention of workplace bullying, harassment and mobbing and a focus on creating a positive organizational culture.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queens University of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA

    Renee L. Cowan

  2. Organizational Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA

    Elizabeth Clayton

  3. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA

    Jaime Bochantin

Authors
  1. Renee L. Cowan
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  2. Elizabeth Clayton
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  3. Jaime Bochantin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Renee L. Cowan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Organizational Behaviour (OB), Indian Institute of Management Organizational Behaviour (OB), Ahmedabad, India

    Premilla D'Cruz

  2. Organizational Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Organizational Behaviour, Ahmedabad, India

    Ernesto Noronha

  3. Faculty of Economics and Business, KU Leuven Faculty of Economics and Business, Brussels, Brussels Hoofdst.ge., Belgium

    Elfi Baillien

  4. School of Management, North Shore MSC, Massey University School of Management, North Shore MSC, Auckland, New Zealand

    Bevan Catley

  5. The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Karen Harlos

  6. Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen Department of Psychology, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Annie Hogh

  7. Gemzoe Consult, Aarhus, Denmark

    Eva Gemzoe Mikkelsen

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Cowan, R.L., Clayton, E., Bochantin, J. (2018). Human Resources as an Important Actor in Workplace Bullying Situations: Where We Have Been and Where We Should Go. In: D'Cruz, P., et al. Pathways of Job-related Negative Behaviour. Handbooks of Workplace Bullying, Emotional Abuse and Harassment, vol 2. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6173-8_18-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6173-8_18-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-6173-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-6173-8

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