Workplace violence: the dark side of organisational life.

Full Abstract

This paper draws on a diverse range of research literature addressing workplace violence, which constitutes one component of the dark side of organisational life. This selective review of the literature has been drawn from the disciplines of nursing, management, psychology and organisational culture. The paper focuses bullying and mobbing in the workplace, addressing its types, causes, the characteristics of bullies and targets and the generalised impact of bullying and mobbing. It also examines whether there are gender issues pertinent to the health care sector. Consideration will also be given to the impact on the individual, group and organization, given the apparent epidemic proportions workplace violence has reached. Ultimately, the question will arise:
how can the workplace violence be abolished, specifically within the health care sector, given that we live in a global environment characterised by international bullying (Crawford 1999)? This is a challenge because workplace violence is perpetuated within organisations, due either to cultures of acceptance, or fear of retribution should it be acknowledged and acted upon (or both).

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Speedy, Sandra (S);

Affiliation: Graduate College of Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Contemporary nurse : a journal for the Australian nursing profession (Contemp Nurse), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 21 (issue 2) : pp 239-50

Dates: Created 2006/05/15; Completed 2006/07/27;

PMID: 16696606, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

Embodiment of discrimination and overseas nurses' career progression. 29 Nov 2007
Equality for gay staff can only be good for the workforce as a whole. 30 Jan 2008
Transforming work environments. Interview by Diane E Scott and Amanda Rosenkranz. 28 Feb 2008
Using a strengths-based approach to build caring work environments. 29 Nov 2007
Work empowerment as experienced by nurses in elderly care. 30 Dec 2007
Violence risks in nursing--results from the European 'NEXT' Study. 19 Jan 2008
Home healthcare practice environment: predictors of RN satisfaction. 30 May 2008
Midwifery in the community. 30 May 2008
Verbal and physical abuse against nurses in Turkey. 29 Nov 2007
Sampling in research on interpersonal aggression. 29 Apr 2008

See 100+ related articles.