What is Mobbing?

Mobbing is the continuous and systematic psychological harassment of an individual by one or more people in the workplace. It represents a situation that can disrupt peace and harmony in the workplace, often leading to emotional and psychological problems such as intense stress, anxiety, fear and sometimes shame. Mobbing has a continuous and repetitive character; an isolated incident is usually not considered as mobbing.

What are Mobbing Practices?

Mobbing practices include situations in which an individual is humiliated, belittled, unfairly criticized, targeted or excluded in the workplace. One of the salient features of mobbing is that such harassment is continuous and systematic. Other practices may include threats from coworkers or managers, verbal or physical attacks and ridicule.

What are the Types of Mobbing?

Mobbing can take various forms:

• Vertical Mobbing: Depending on the hierarchical situation in the workplace, it is a form of harassment that a person at a higher level applies to a subordinate or vice versa.
• Horizontal Mobbing: Harassment between employees at the same level as a result of competition, rivalry or hostility at work.
• Strategic Mobbing: A type of harassment used by an employer or manager to dismiss or force an employee to resign.
• Occupational Mobbing: Harassment aimed at belittling or questioning an employee's professional skills, abilities or experience.

What are the Situations that may be Considered as Mobbing at the Workplace?

Mobbing can involve a variety of behaviors and often follows a systematic pattern:

• Unnecessary criticism or blaming of the employee
• Constant humiliation or belittling of the employee
• Constant additional workload of the employee
• The employee is threatened with unfair dismissal
• Social exclusion or isolation experienced by the worker
• The employee is insulted and abused
• Constant ridicule of the employee

What are the Effects of Mobbing on the Individual?

Mobbing can have significant effects on a person's overall health. As these effects have the potential to cause serious harm to the victim, each of them is an important issue to be addressed:

• Psychological Effects: People exposed to mobbing may experience psychological problems such as stress, depression, anxiety, loss of self-confidence, anger and sleep disorders. These conditions can reduce work performance and overall quality of life.
• Social Effects: Isolation at work and in general social life, decreased participation in social activities, deterioration in friendships and family relationships can be observed.
• Physical Effects: The stress and anxiety caused by mobbing can lead to physical health problems such as headaches, stomach problems, heart conditions, hypertension and general weakness.

How to Prove Mobbing?

Proving mobbing can often be a challenging process because most mobbing behavior is not clearly visible or documented. However, mobbing can be proven through evidence such as witness statements, written documents, emails, SMSs, audio or video recordings. In particular, changes in the employee's behavior or performance at work or communication between coworkers can play an important role in proving mobbing.

Where Can Victims of Mobbing Apply?

People subjected to mobbing can report the situation to the human resources department at the workplace or directly to the employer. They can also contact workplace representatives, trade unions or legal counsel. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, they can also approach local authorities, legal counsel or the courts.

Are there any penalties for the crime of mobbing?

Yes, there are penalties for mobbing. Labor laws grant various rights to mobbing victims, such as the right to leave the job and the right to claim compensation. In addition, the employer is obliged to take the necessary measures to prevent mobbing practices and find solutions. If the employer fails to fulfill this obligation, administrative fines may be imposed.

The Role of Workplaces

Workplaces can take proactive steps to prevent mobbing. Employers can ensure that employees know their rights and explain to employees what mobbing is and how to prevent it. Furthermore, employers can organize training programs and workshops to promote a fair workplace and create a positive atmosphere among employees.

In conclusion, mobbing is one of the complex and serious problems of work life. It can negatively affect an individual's psychological, physical and social health and reduce workplace productivity. Therefore, both legal regulations and policies and practices in the workplace need to be constantly reviewed and improved in order to prevent mobbing and protect the victims.