Bullying is a form of abuse that costs Irish business an estimated €3 billion annually and brings incalculable physical and mental suffering to affected employees, a Dublin conference heard.
The conference, Workplace Bullying: Tackling the Menace, aims to raise awareness of the issue and recommend strategies for its prevention. It has drawn together experts from the fields of management, psychology, politics, business and law, and was attended by delegates from the public and private sectors.
Jacinta Kitt, a researcher and consultant on the issue, said appreciation of the prevalence of bullying is relatively recent.
"I feel that bullying always took place in organisations, but like all other forms of abuse, it's only now beginning to be recognised for what it is," she said. "It's very difficult to identify, and even more difficult to prove, and it has thrived because of this."
Generally, argued Ms Kitt, identifying workplace bullies involves looking out for common behavioural tactics, such as abusive surveillance, invasion of privacy, the setting of impossible tasks, as well as persistent and unfounded criticism. Companies should put in place an anti-bullying policy, a work charter and clear procedures for dealing with bullying cases, she said.
Although behavioural change is critical, said Mary Henry, there is also a need for legislation.
"I want to get to a state where people don't have to take cases to the courts because workplace behaviour is so good that bullying does not exist. The public is not very sympathetic and prefers to ignore the issue - the same happened with child sexual abuse and domestic violence." Senator Henry called for the required legislation to combat the abuse.
Mark Harrold, a clinical psychologist, argued that recent social change in Ireland had exacerbated the problem. "The new Ireland executive culture sees employees as disposable, and the legal system gives licence to administrators to engage in unethical behaviour. We must acknowledge the long-term consequences, not just for our economic wellbeing, but for our psychological wellbeing as well."
Extrapolating from figures provided by British researcher Tim Field, Dr Harrold estimated that the annual cost of workplace bullying to Irish business is €3 billion, when sick leave, lost productivity and staff replacement costs are taken into account.
Taking his own company as a case study, Pádraig Ó Céidigh, managing director of Aer Arann, said employers have a duty to confront the problem when it arises.
"I've had to make some seriously tough decisions [in bullying cases], but that's where leadership comes in. You have to protect the culture. There are times when you have to stand up and make a call."