Insight into Ill-Treatment in the Workplace: Patterns, Causes and Solutions

ABSTRACT. This article summarizes the findings of a representative study of ill-treatment in the British workplace. Using evidence drawn from nearly 4,000 in-home, face-to-face interviews and backed up by four organizational case studies, the article illustrates how workplace ill-treatment falls into three distinct, but overlapping, categories. Just under half the British workforce experienced unreasonable treatment at work over a two year period while forty per cent of employees experienced incivility or disrespect. Violence and injury is less common than other types of ill treatment but was still experienced by the equivalent of over one million British workers. The article shows which workplaces and which types of employee were most likely to be affected in each of these categories and suggests ways of minimizing workplace ill-treatment.Keywords: ill treatment, bullying and harassment, workplace violence, minorities, disability1. IntroductionThis paper summarizes the findings of a national study into ill-treatment in the workplace. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and supported by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the paper provides an authoritative account of workplace ill-treatment in Britain. Using evidence drawn from nearly 4,000 in-home, face-to-face interviews and backed up by four organizational case studies, the paper illustrates how workplace illtreatment falls into three distinct categories:* Just under half the British workforce experience unreasonable treatment at work over a two year period. Some of the more common forms of unreasonable treatment are experienced by nearly one in three, or one in four, British employees. Most unreasonable treatment originates with their managers and supervisors. * Forty per cent of employees experience incivility or disrespect over a two year period. Managers and supervisors are the most important source of incivility and disrespect but more of this kind of ill-treatment is meted out by co-workers, and by customers and clients and customers. The most common forms of incivility and disrespect are experienced by one in five employees. * Violence and injury is less common than other types of ill treatment but is still experienced by the equivalent of over one million British workers. Actual physical violence and injury as a result of aggressive and violent acts are primarily perpetrated by non-employees.Using first-hand experiences, witness testimony and backed up by interviews with human resources (HR) managers, trade union officials and general managers, the paper illustrates how toxic workplace ill-treatment can be, both for individuals and organizations. It also identifies who is most at risk of workplace ill-treatment.Employees with disabilities or long-term health problems, younger employees and lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) employees are all more likely to experience ill-treatment at work holding other factors constant. LGB employees are far more likely to experience workplace violence.Contrary to received wisdom, it is not always the weakest employees who are on the receiving end of ill-treatment. For example, permanent staff with managerial responsibilities are more likely to experience both unreasonable treatment and workplace violence. Better-paid employees are more likely to experience unreasonable treatment. Trade union members are more likely to experience violence and injury.Certain sizes and types of workplace are also shown to have greater levels of ill-treatment. Medium-sized and larger organizations are more at risk than very small workplaces. Workers in the public sector are particularly at risk of both incivility and disrespect and violence and injury. Within the public sector, employees in health and social care, public administration and defense, and education are particularly at risk.No matter what sector you work in, if you are in a job where you have experienced reduced control over your work, and a pace of work you think is too demanding, you are more at risk of ill treatment across the board. …