Does Workplace Bullying Affect Long-Term Sickness Absence Among Co-Workers?

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

AIM: To examine if non-bullied employees at work units (WUs) with workplace bullying have more long-term sickness absence (LTSA) than employees in non-bullying WUs.

METHODS: We included 7229 public health employees from 302 WUs and 3158 responders to a questionnaire on working conditions and health in 2007. WUs were classified into three categories of WUs; 1) no bullying (0% bullied); 2) moderate prevalence of bullying (<10% bullied); and 3) high prevalence of bullying (≥10% bullied). LTSA (≥30 consecutive days of sickness absence) during the following two years was obtained by linkage to the Danish register of sickness absence compensation benefits and social transfer payments.

RESULTS: Non-bullied co-workers in WUs, where bullying was reported had 15 to 22% more LTSA compared with non-bullying WUs.

CONCLUSION: Workplace bullying may be associated with LTSA in the entire WU.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume60
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)132–137
ISSN1076-2752
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2018

    Research areas

  • Journal Article

ID: 185649960