University researchers to study violence at work

from The Sheffield Telegraph

Psychologists from the University of Sheffield will examine the causes and effects of work-related violence and bullying in a groundbreaking new study.

The research team, from the University’s Institute of Work Psychology (IWP) and the Department of Psychology, will be one of the first to examine both violence and bullying instigated from within organisations (by other employees), and from outside of organisations (by customers), in the same study.

The research is made possible thanks to a £97,000 grant from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

The team will measure the impact of violence and bullying over time to enable greater insight into the causes and detrimental effects, and focus on how to limit the effects violence and bullying have on employees’ well-being and health.

Christine Sprigg, from IWP, said: “Recent research has suggested value in considering external and internal sources of workplace violence simultaneously. Based on these initial findings, this will be the first time a single study has considered both the intra- and extra-organisational forms of violence and bullying.

“We look forward to working with a number of organisations to deliver our findings to IOSH. Without their support we would not be able to gather the evidence that is needed to give the correct advice to those who have to deal with these difficult issues.”