This paper is part of the International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management (ISSN: 2700-8983), Volume 5, Issue 2, published in 2024.
Authors
Fumani Donald Mabasa
Abstract
Workplace bullying remains a pervasive issue globally, affecting employee well-being and organisational performance. This study explores the phenomenon of workplace bullying from a contextualised South African perspective, employing a narrative approach to capture the nuanced experiences and perspectives of individuals within the workplace. Based on a qualitative design, purposive sampling was used, and 21 employees were interviewed. Thus, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data was analysed using the content analysis method. Two themes and four subthemes were identified. Firstly, response to bullying Behaviour with two subthemes (passive response & active response). Secondly, managing bullying Behaviour with four subthemes (personal management, organisational management, responsibility for managing bullying & managing bullying Behaviour through prevention). Most participants managed workplace bullying by “doing nothing”. The data also showed that age and gender played a significant role in the African contexts, taking into consideration shared cultural believes and customs. The study further provided a practical model for managing workplace bullying from an African perspective. Furthermore, the study proposes a need for workplace bullying legislation to further increase the severity of bullying Behaviour. The study also highlights a need to incorporate indigenous knowledge when managing workplace bullying. Based on the results, this study also proposed model of managing workplace bullying from a South African perspective. The findings contribute to both theoretical understandings of workplace bullying and practical interventions tailored to the South African context, ultimately fostering healthier and more supportive work environments.
Suggested Citation (APA 7th)
Mabasa, F. (2024). Managing Workplace Bullying from Contextualised South African Perspective: A Narrative Approach. International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.51137/ijarbm.2024.5.2.7
