[Czechia] Survey reveals extent of workplace bullying

According to new research, one out of every 10 employees in Czechia has personally experienced workplace bullying in the past five years. From August, many employees in the country will have increased protection as it becomes mandatory for large companies to have an internal reporting procedure, Expats.cz reports.

The survey was conducted among job seekers by staffing agency Grafton Recruitment. Bullying comes in many forms, Grafton Recruitment’s research revealed that in 2 per cent of cases it took the form of sexual harassment and in another 2 per cent, the bullying was physical violence. Almost half of the bullied employees said they resolved the situation by leaving their job. 

The online survey was conducted in February and March 2023, with responses from 1,500 people across Czechia.

Women are reportedly the target of bullying more frequently than men. The most common sectors where bullying occurred were trade and marketing.

Workplace, bullying commonly begins with ongoing hostile relations between colleagues, which escalate into humiliation and other manifestations. The most common type is reportedly the bullying of a subordinate by a superior. “Bossing” – also called “downward bullying” – can include the assignment of impossible tasks, constant criticism, irony, ridicule or even neglect.

Bullying by subordinates or colleagues at the same level also frequently occurs and is referred to as “mobbing.” The term comes from animal science and was coined in the 1960s to describe how birds and animals will all come together to attack an outsider. It began to be applied to the way children interact in the 1970s and was further extended to workplace interactions in the 1980s. The impact of bullying extends beyond the damaging effect on the victim as it also affects workplace performance.

"Poor mental health, increased absenteeism, increasing error rate, decreasing productivity, ubiquitous stress, this is just a small list of the problems that bullying in the workplace brings with it," Jitka Součková - marketing director of Grafton Recruitment - said in a press release.

"It is necessary for company management in particular to pay due attention to the atmosphere at the workplace and to detect any issues before they escalate," Ms Součková said.

In addition, bullying can increase staff turnover. A huge 48 per cent of respondents solved the situation by leaving their jobs. A quarter went to their supervisor with the issue and another quarter confided in their colleagues.

Survey respondents reportedly said that if they witnessed bullying, in the vast majority of cases they would attempt to resolve the situation. Half would seek help from a superior, 26 per cent would tell colleagues about the bullying and 16 per cent said they would resolve the situation with the company's HR department.

New whistleblowing law

The introduction of a whistleblowing system - or internal reporting system - should help address bullying and other illegal behaviour in the workplace. At present, 21 per cent of survey respondents can reportedly use this system, however, from August companies with more than 250 employees should have this system operational.

Czechia passed the law earlier this year after the European Commission threatened to take the country and seven other EU members to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to implement legal protections for whistleblowers.

In the experience of companies that have already introduced whistleblowing, the system has improved the atmosphere at the workplace and increased employee satisfaction.

"People don't have to be afraid to report both illegal or unethical behaviour, as well as bullying, discrimination, unfair treatment, or concerns about the safety of the working environment. This brings a calmer atmosphere, transparency, and higher satisfaction to the workplace," Ms Součková said.

Employers need not be concerned about a significant burden from the system. According to a report by Navex Global, companies in European countries receive an average of just five notifications per 1,000 employees per year.

Source: Expats.cz

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

According to new research, one out of every 10 employees in Czechia has personally experienced workplace bullying in the past five years. From August, many employees in the country will have increased protection as it becomes mandatory for large companies to have an internal reporting procedure, Expats.cz reports.

The survey was conducted among job seekers by staffing agency Grafton Recruitment. Bullying comes in many forms, Grafton Recruitment’s research revealed that in 2 per cent of cases it took the form of sexual harassment and in another 2 per cent, the bullying was physical violence. Almost half of the bullied employees said they resolved the situation by leaving their job. 

The online survey was conducted in February and March 2023, with responses from 1,500 people across Czechia.

Women are reportedly the target of bullying more frequently than men. The most common sectors where bullying occurred were trade and marketing.

Workplace, bullying commonly begins with ongoing hostile relations between colleagues, which escalate into humiliation and other manifestations. The most common type is reportedly the bullying of a subordinate by a superior. “Bossing” – also called “downward bullying” – can include the assignment of impossible tasks, constant criticism, irony, ridicule or even neglect.

Bullying by subordinates or colleagues at the same level also frequently occurs and is referred to as “mobbing.” The term comes from animal science and was coined in the 1960s to describe how birds and animals will all come together to attack an outsider. It began to be applied to the way children interact in the 1970s and was further extended to workplace interactions in the 1980s. The impact of bullying extends beyond the damaging effect on the victim as it also affects workplace performance.

"Poor mental health, increased absenteeism, increasing error rate, decreasing productivity, ubiquitous stress, this is just a small list of the problems that bullying in the workplace brings with it," Jitka Součková - marketing director of Grafton Recruitment - said in a press release.

"It is necessary for company management in particular to pay due attention to the atmosphere at the workplace and to detect any issues before they escalate," Ms Součková said.

In addition, bullying can increase staff turnover. A huge 48 per cent of respondents solved the situation by leaving their jobs. A quarter went to their supervisor with the issue and another quarter confided in their colleagues.

Survey respondents reportedly said that if they witnessed bullying, in the vast majority of cases they would attempt to resolve the situation. Half would seek help from a superior, 26 per cent would tell colleagues about the bullying and 16 per cent said they would resolve the situation with the company's HR department.

New whistleblowing law

The introduction of a whistleblowing system - or internal reporting system - should help address bullying and other illegal behaviour in the workplace. At present, 21 per cent of survey respondents can reportedly use this system, however, from August companies with more than 250 employees should have this system operational.

Czechia passed the law earlier this year after the European Commission threatened to take the country and seven other EU members to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to implement legal protections for whistleblowers.

In the experience of companies that have already introduced whistleblowing, the system has improved the atmosphere at the workplace and increased employee satisfaction.

"People don't have to be afraid to report both illegal or unethical behaviour, as well as bullying, discrimination, unfair treatment, or concerns about the safety of the working environment. This brings a calmer atmosphere, transparency, and higher satisfaction to the workplace," Ms Součková said.

Employers need not be concerned about a significant burden from the system. According to a report by Navex Global, companies in European countries receive an average of just five notifications per 1,000 employees per year.

Source: Expats.cz

(Links and quotes via original reporting)