Exploring the Workplace Bullying and Incivility Experiences of Faculty in the Higher Education Workplace

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Institutionalized Violence and Barriers

Abstract

Research suggests workplace bullying (WB) and incivility (WI) occur among academics and may: threaten professional status, lead to social isolation, and negatively impact psychosocial health. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore how a group of faculty working in a Canadian university experienced WB/WI and the impact of these experiences on their professional and personal lives. Thematic analysis resulted in five themes: (1) Examples of WB/WI incidents; (2) Impact of WB/WI; (3) Importance of trust; (4) Causes of WB/WI; and (5) Coping mechanisms. When increasing demands on faculty workload was accompanied by increased inflexibility, excessive monitoring, and micro-managing caused by WB/WI, situations of high strain developed.

Authors

• Laurie-Ann M. Hellsten, University of Saskatchewan

• Lynn Ellen Lemisko, University of Saskatchewan

• Laureen J. McIntyre, University of Saskatchewan

• Amin Mousavi, University of Saskatchewan