Tackling Workplace Bullying in Greece’s Public Sector: Roots and Remedies

This study examines workplace bullying within Greece's public administration, analyzing its causes and contributing factors. In the Greek context, gender does not appear to be a significant factor, in contrast to findings in global research. The study explores the correlation between bullying and employees’ length of service as well as educational attainment. A quantitative methodology was employed, using a questionnaire to collect data from public administration employees. The results indicate that bullying predominantly affects older, higher-ranking individuals with up to 10 years of service and advanced educational qualifications, including some with graduate degrees. Mobbing occurs frequently, ranging from weekly to daily incidents. Key contributing factors include organizational dysfunction, victims' exceptional job performance, interpersonal conflicts, a work environment that enables such behavior, hostility from colleagues, and the victims’ elevated status within the organization. Based on these findings, the report recommends several measures to combat workplace bullying. These include improving reporting mechanisms, providing training for both employees and managers on recognizing and addressing bullying, revising existing legislation to more effectively address mobbing, and involving experienced consultants to support victims and manage incidents professionally.