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
|
| 
© 2004 - 2012 jml Training & Consultancy - All rights reserved
