Peninsula Ireland Survey
2008 - Seven in ten affected by workplace rage.
A
survey has been carried out by Peninsula Ireland of
1,149 workers in February 2008. The law firm found
that the Irish workplace is getting more "hot tempered"
with a majority of workers experiencing regular verbal
abuse.
The survey found that this work rage was affecting seven
out of every ten employees with similar numbers reporting
regular shouting at work.
The law firm survey also found that 74 per cent of Irish
workers admitted to having lost their temper whilst
at work. Nine out of every ten affected by rage blamed
it on co-workers who were not "pulling their weight".
Some of the 68 per cent of people surveyed said that
verbal and yelling abuse was common at their work
place.
Alan
Price of Peninsula Ireland said: "You get situations
in Ireland where employees fear coming into work.
It is time to expose workplace bullying for what it
really is, a form of harassment and in no way should
it be tolerated. "Bullying in the workplace can take
on many forms and it’s not just from colleagues as
it seems many workers are harassed by management.
"We urge employers to have a system in place where
workers are encouraged to speak to someone if they
feel bullied and where their complaint is taken seriously
and acted upon."
Mr
Price went onto say "When talking to employees it
is apparent that those that are bullied by management
or their employer are reluctant to work as hard as
those that are not bullied. "Silent bullying presents
a major problem, where someone feels isolated when
left out of group discussions and decisions. "Employees
and employers need to remember that harassment is
in the eye of the recipient and the question employers
need to ask is whether the situation could be considered
severe enough for the employee to take legal action."
Mental Health Ireland said it would be concerned for
the well being of workers who are continually on the
receiving end of co-workers and boses who loose their
tempers.
The Chief Executive of Mental Health Ireland, Brian Howard
said "If this is a new phenomenon it would certainly
be a cause of concern for us." commenting on the fact
that 68 per cent of respondents to the survey saying
that yelling and verbal abuse at work was common,
Mr Howard said " If it is representative of the entire
country there is something pretty wrong there that
needs to be addressed. There would be a concern for
the well being of individuals if seven out of ten
people regularly experience shouting and yelling in
the workplace."
Mental Health Ireland had surveys in 2003 and 2005 that
showed work places were generally becoming more stressful,
but had not explored any pattern of roaring and yelling
abuse.
Mr Howard went on to say " If someone loses their temper
once in a blue moon, well I think everybody would
put their hand up to that, when they encounter extreme
stressful situations and if they are working very
long hours. But to loose one's temper on a regular
basis, i.e. daily or weekly, if seven out of ten people
are experiencing that it would be a bit of a shock
to us".
Brian Howard has advised workers to take action when
stress in the workplace was taking its toll. He concluded
by saying " There's greater stress on the workforce,
but our findings suggest most people can cope with
the growth of stress, but with a significant minority
around the 20 to 25 per cent mark, it does affect
their life styles and the quality of their work.Our
advice is recognise that stress is a modern day phenomenon
and to recognise the causes of it and take action
where necessary."
Please
note, all details on any of Press Releases displayed
on this site are provided by Companies, organisations,
Government departments and media and jml Training
and Consultancy does not take any responsibilty for
their content or accuracy
