What is mobbing? Can any manifestation of verbal aggression be considered persistent harassment? Or maybe we are the ones who commit inappropriate behavior towards colleagues without realizing it? Remember, however, that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. So let’s get acquainted with the legal definition of the phenomenon and its consequences.
Mobbing in the workplace
In legal terms, mobbing is “actions or behavior concerning an employee or directed against an employee, consisting in persistent and long-term harassment or intimidation of an employee, causing an underestimation of their professional suitability, causing or aimed at humiliating or ridiculing the employee, isolating them or eliminating them from the team. co-workers”.
Let’s remember that mobbing does not only refer to the workplace. Psychological terror may occur in all compulsory groups in which there is a hierarchy of service relationships. The intensification of this phenomenon is the result of growing social frustration, and thus the desire to discharge emotions on subordinates who, by definition, cannot defend themselves. Therefore, it is not surprising that mobbing takes place both in workplaces, as well as in schools, the army, and even in family homes.
Among the most common acts of psychological violence the following are mentioned:
- threats and intimidation,
- insulting,
- vulgar ad personam comments,
- hostile attitude,
- screams
- provocative behavior,
- taunts.
Where to report?
When experiencing harassment from your supervisor or colleagues, let your employer first. If we envisage taking further legal steps, it is worth submitting the complaint in writing – such a document is important evidence in a case for compensation. If the complaint is not considered, the next step is to notify the National Labor Inspectorate for inspection in the plant (without providing your own personal details) or to apply to the labor court.
How to prove mobbing?
It is not easy to prove mobbing in court. The victim must collect as much clear evidence as possible proving the commission of the crime. Writing down disturbing behaviors and mobbing activities is not direct evidence, but it will help to organize the sequence of events and create a coherent narrative. Much more important is the tangible evidence of harassment, such as text messages, e-mails, recordings of telephone calls, and video or dictaphones. Of course, all records should cover a longer period – individual e-mails or messages do not constitute reliable evidence and do not indicate long-term and persistent harassment. Evidence in a mobbing case may also be a sick leave indicating axial symptoms that occur with disorders in the neurological, mental and cardiological spheres.
Verbal aggression very often turns into physical aggression. A mobbing person can smoothly go from yelling and shaking his fist, to spitting and harmless poking, to acts of physical violence. Allowing an uncontrolled escalation of aggression can have tragic consequences.