Workplace bullying and its impact on productivity
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2010-04
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Abstract
Workplace bullying has been identified as a major occupational and social problem that has been in existence for ages. It is considered damaging, continual and long lasting where one party exerts some negative influence and supremacy over the other party. This study examined the impact on workplace bullying on employee productivity which eventually affects the productivity of a firm. Specifically, this study addresses the impact that it has on a target‟s ability to perform through exploring bullying from the viewpoint of both targets and witnesses.
The study attempts to answer one key question. “Does workplace bullying have an effect on productivity?” Focusing on bullying in 7 Multinational Companies in Ghana, 29 targets and 21 witnesses to bullying formed the sample with the aid of self-administered questionnaires. Findings suggest that bullying does affect a target‟s productivity and ultimately an organisation‟s productivity as was noted by most of the respondents (86%). Moreover, most respondents reported that they were least productive (52%) due to bullying at work.
Also, findings indicate that as a result of bullying in the organisation, duties and responsibilities are not performed to maximum potential, hence leading to a loss in productivity. The study does not only establish these facts but provide in-depth knowledge, useful efforts to identify, prevent, reduce and combat workplace bullying in order to prevent loss in productivity.
Description
Thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University College, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, April 2010
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Keywords
workplace bullying, productivity, multinational companies, Ghana