Did your Organisation address the Perpetrator(s) and Manage their Behaviour?

Organisational Response to Reports of “In-House” Workplace Abuse, Harassment & Violence

©A significant finding was that the organisation's management did not address the perpetrator(s) of abuse and manage their behaviour.

63% of respondents responded "no" to this question.

That is, 79 respondents out of 119 report that their organisation did not address the perpetrator's behaviour. The issue of the current practice of measuring the target(s) report of harm and the perpetrator(s) behaviour in the same dimension; is not providing adequate protection and validation for the target(s) has recently grown in importance. The controversy over this practice inadvertently reveals a culture of imbalance of power and inequality. Effective leadership is an essential component that identifies the target(s) of workplace abuse and protects them from perpetrators of workplace abuse. A theoretical issue that has dominated the field in recent years is the concept of trauma-informed investigations and interventions to stop the cycle of violence and minimise risk. 

A considerable amount of literature has been published on psychological violence and that it is more likely to occur in situations of laissez-faire mismanagement, power inequalities, rigid hierarchical structures, lack of autonomy and social tolerance of coercive behaviours. This research confirms previous findings and contributes to our understanding that sociologists lack tools to measure and understand a social behaviour that doesn't have a clear beginning or end but is repeated and cumulative. The results show abuse affects a section of people, target(s) whose lives and personal freedom become severely controlled and their lives shattered including their careers.

©No part of this article may be reproduced without prior permission of the author Judith Carmody. The post can be reposted in full giving credit to the author's work.

This survey is part of a research dissertation for a Master of Arts in Leadership in Workplace Health and Wellbeing, Technical University of the Shannon, Ireland.

Content Warning: Please be advised, the below survey might mention trauma-related topics that include abuse, which could be triggering to the reader.  Please contact your Health Care Provider.

This article pro­vides gen­eral infor­ma­tion and dis­cus­sion about personal development and related sub­jects. The words and other con­tent pro­vided in this blog, and in any linked mate­ri­als, are not intended and should not be con­strued as med­ical or legal advice. If the reader of this material has a med­ical or legal con­cern, he or she should con­sult with an appropriately health care provider or legal advisor. #bullying #trauma