What is Mobbing and How to Deal with It?

What is Mobbing and How to Deal with It?

Mobbing in the workplace refers to the continuous targeting, harassment, humiliation, or exclusion of an employee by others. This situation can cause psychological, emotional, or even physical harm in the work environment and typically has adverse effects on organizational productivity. Mobbing can manifest in various ways: continuous criticism, gossip, ridicule, or excessive workload.
Dealing with mobbing involves several steps:

1. Identifying and Documenting the Situation: It's important to clarify what mobbing is and how it has emerged. Taking notes with dates and details of the incidents can serve as evidence.
2. Reviewing Corporate Policies: Review workplace policies concerning mobbing. Understand the steps to be taken in case of mobbing incidents.
3. Reporting to Upper Management: Address the issue to upper management or the HR department as the initial step toward finding a resolution. Providing supporting information with documents and witnesses during your discussions can be beneficial.
4. Seeking Support: If you're a victim of mobbing, seeking psychological or emotional support is crucial. Counseling or psychological support services can help reduce the stress you might be experiencing.
5. Legal Counsel: When mobbing becomes a legal issue, seeking assistance from a lawyer or legal advisor is essential. Professional guidance can help you understand your legal rights and the legal steps to take for protection.
6. Exploring Alternative Solutions: Finding alternative ways to resolve the issue of mobbing in the workplace is important. These could include mediation, transitioning to a different department, or changing jobs.

Mobbing is a serious issue that can undermine workplace productivity and negatively impact employee well-being. Therefore, it's important not to hesitate in taking the necessary steps to address the problem. With societal and corporate support, the effects of mobbing can be mitigated, and a healthy work environment can be restored.

How to Prove Mobbing?

Proving mobbing can be challenging as it often involves a psychological process without direct or tangible evidence. However, there are strategies and indicators to prove mobbing:

1. Recording Incidents: Documenting incidents with dates, times, and details is crucial. Keeping a journal or documenting incidents through emails or written communications can serve as evidence.
2. Testimonies from Witnesses: If others have witnessed or observed the mobbing, their testimonies are crucial. Statements from other employees supporting the situation can serve as evidence.
3. Leaving Electronic Trails: Preserving emails, messages, or other electronic communications related to mobbing is important. Such communication can serve as evidence supporting your claims.
4. Performance Evaluations: If mobbing has resulted in decreased job performance or unjustified negative evaluations, documenting these instances is crucial. Comparing your past performances can showcase any discrepancies.
5. Medical Reports and Documents: Providing doctor reports or counseling documents that document stress, anxiety, or other psychological impacts caused by mobbing can serve as evidence.
6. Workplace Policies and Rules: Examining workplace policies against mobbing and documenting instances where these policies were violated is important.

Gathering such evidence and supporting it with concrete proof is crucial in proving mobbing. However, as each case is different, the most effective strategies to be used may vary. Therefore, seeking professional support in cases of mobbing is also important. Legal advisors, HR professionals, or counselors can guide you on how to proceed in a mobbing situation.