PROMOTION can bring out the bully in new managers, according to research at Trinity College, Dublin. Of 30 victims of workplace bullies interviewed at TCD's Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Unit, half said their bosses had been promoted before the bullying began.
The results of the research were presented yesterday to the European Congress of Psychology at University College, Dublin.
The majority of the victims in the study were themselves in professional, managerial or supervisory grades, according to Ms Elizabeth Seigne who presented the results with her colleague Ms Mona O'Moore. The bullies were in senior and middle management.
Only victims who were bullied at least once a week for six months were included in the study.
Forms of bullying included: verbal aggression; circulating belittling rumours; setting unrealistic work targets; overloading the victim with work; criticising the victim's work.
According to the victims, the bullies had difficult personalities and were envious of them. In some cases the bully saw the victim as different in some way or as more qualified than the bully. Ms O'Moore said that in some instances victims were being got rid of to make way for people favoured by the bullies.
The bullies tended to be aged over 40 and their victims averaged 44.
Of the bullies 20 of the 30 were men. This contrasted with the victims, of whom only nine were men. Ms Seigne said research elsewhere showed equal numbers of men and women were bullied but that women were more willing to admit it.
The victims suffered physical effects in every case and psychological effects in almost all cases.
Physical effects included crying, sleeplessness, stomach upsets, headaches, rashes, shaking and sweating.
Psychological effects included stress, anxiety, irritability, depression, helplessness, paranoia, lower self-esteem and isolation.
By and large, those who brought their complaints to personnel departments or to their trade unions were dissatisfied with the outcome. Trade unions were hampered by lack of legisation and companies by the absence of policies and procedures on dealing with bullying.
Only two bullies were transferred, whereas 10 victims left their job because of their experiences.
Companies offered counselling or other help to about 40 per cent of victims, said Ms Seigne.
Some victims have gone to the Employment Appeals Tribunal or the courts and so far, two have obtained compensation.
Ms O'Moore suggests that other victims should seek legal advice so as to avoid the feeling of being isolated and helpless.
Ms Seigne agreed with a questioner at yesterday's conference that it would be desirable for researchers to obtain the views of bullies.
"That's something we would certainly like to do," she said, "but I am afraid our bullies are very shy."