Bullying and employee turn-over among health-care workers: A three-wave prospective study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bullying and employee turn-over among health-care workers

T2 - A three-wave prospective study

AU - Hogh, Annie

AU - Hoel, H.

AU - Caneiro, I. G.

PY - 2011/9

Y1 - 2011/9

N2 - Aim To investigate the risk of turnover among targets of bullying at work. Background Exposure to bullying seems to leave targets with intentions to leave their workplaces. Howeverit is uncertain to what extent they actually leave. Method Data were collected by questionnaires in a three-wave study among Danish healthcare workers at the time of graduation (T 1)1 (T 2) and 2years (T 3) later. We followed 2154 respondents who participated in all three waves. Results The first year after graduation9.2% reported being bullied at work1.8% frequently. Follow-up analyses showed a strong relationship between exposure to bullying at T 2 and turnover at T 3 [odds ratio (OR) for frequently bullied=3.1]. The inclusion of push factors such as low social support and low sense of communityintention to leave and ill health did not change the relation between bullying and turnover significantly. Three reasons for quitting stood out among reasons given by the bullied respondents: poor leadershipbeing exposed to negative behaviour and health problems. Conclusion Bullying may be costly to an organization in terms of staff turnover and subsequent recruitment and training of replacements. Impact for Nursing Management Managers should regularly monitor the psychosocial work environment. To prevent bullying local policies and procedures should be developedimplemented and evaluated.

AB - Aim To investigate the risk of turnover among targets of bullying at work. Background Exposure to bullying seems to leave targets with intentions to leave their workplaces. Howeverit is uncertain to what extent they actually leave. Method Data were collected by questionnaires in a three-wave study among Danish healthcare workers at the time of graduation (T 1)1 (T 2) and 2years (T 3) later. We followed 2154 respondents who participated in all three waves. Results The first year after graduation9.2% reported being bullied at work1.8% frequently. Follow-up analyses showed a strong relationship between exposure to bullying at T 2 and turnover at T 3 [odds ratio (OR) for frequently bullied=3.1]. The inclusion of push factors such as low social support and low sense of communityintention to leave and ill health did not change the relation between bullying and turnover significantly. Three reasons for quitting stood out among reasons given by the bullied respondents: poor leadershipbeing exposed to negative behaviour and health problems. Conclusion Bullying may be costly to an organization in terms of staff turnover and subsequent recruitment and training of replacements. Impact for Nursing Management Managers should regularly monitor the psychosocial work environment. To prevent bullying local policies and procedures should be developedimplemented and evaluated.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01264.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01264.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21899627

SN - 0966-0429

VL - 19

SP - 742

EP - 751

JO - Journal of Nursing Management

JF - Journal of Nursing Management

IS - 6

ER -