Bullying the Boss: The Prevalence of Upward Bullying Behaviours

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Wallace, Belinda
Johnston, Lucy
Trenberth, Linda
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2010
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

The present study investigated the prevalence of upwards bullying - that is, subordinate-initiated bullying of their supervisor - in two sample groups. Subordinates (n = 491) in this study were either thesis students working under the supervision of an academic advisor or were employees working under a primary supervisor in a variety of occupations. Participants completed a measure of bullying behaviours, the Negative Acts Questionnaire, as part of an online survey. Although the overall prevalence of bullies was low (1.7%), there was a high incidence of bullying behaviour with 70.6% of the sample reporting having engaged in bullying behaviours toward their supervisor in the preceding 6 month period. The incidence of bullying behaviours was lower for the students than for the employees and lower for females than for males. Implications for workplaces are considered. Keywords: bullying, subordinate, supervisor

Journal Title

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Organisational Psychology

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

3

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Industrial and Organisational Psychology

Business and Management

Psychology

Persistent link to this record
Citation
Collections