Bullying Becoming a German Occupational Hazard

July 26, 2002
Maulheld. That's the word for "bully" in German, and apparently, there are more of them than ever in the workplace.

The Germans even have a term for a new type of workplace bullying that's rearing its ugly head: "mobbing."

Mobbing is not unique to Germany. Many U.S. workers would define it as an unpleasant work environment, querulous coworkers, a "whispering campaign," or out-and-out harassment. Mobbing is an insidious form of bullying that does not involve direct physical or verbal confrontation. Mobbing usually involves co-workers, subordinates or superiors using gossip, innuendo, isolation, intimidation and other types of psychological warfare to discredit, unnerve or humiliate a worker.

Many German cities have support and self-help groups for workers who are victimized by mobbing. They include the services of therapists and attorneys.

A study sponsored by the German government found that nearly 3 percent of workers, or about 800,000 people, are subjected to mobbing. For the full year of 2000, about 5.5 percent of workers had been mobbed, and at some point in their worklife, 11.3 percent of workers reported they experienced mobbing.

Ulf Imiela, a top official in the German labor union umbrella organization DGB, admitted that mobbing has been a labor union issue for several years, but recently, the problem has gained national attention.

"The general public is very interested in this issue," he told Reuters Health.

Imiela said "bad" managers and supervisors are one of the major causes of mobbing, and he blamed stressful work environments for adding to the problem.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

10 Facts About the State of Workplace Safety in the U.S.

July 12, 2024
Workplace safety in the U.S. has improved over the past 50 years, but progress has recently stalled. This report from the AFL-CIO highlights key challenges.

Free Webinar: ISO 45001 – A Commitment to Occupational Health, Safety & Personal Wellness

May 30, 2024
Secure a safer and more productive workplace using proven Management Systems ISO 45001 and ISO 45003.

ISO 45003 – Psychological Health and Safety at Work

May 30, 2024
ISO 45003 offers a comprehensive framework to expand your existing occupational health and safety program, helping you mitigate psychosocial risks and promote overall employee...

Case Study: Improve TRIR from 4+ to 1 with EHS Solution and Safety Training

May 29, 2024
Safety training and EHS solutions improve TRIR for Complete Mechanical Services, leading to increased business. Moving incidents, training, and other EHS procedures into the digital...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!