Men and women respond to workplace bullying differently

Colleagues gossiping with sad young businessman in foreground at a bright office (Getty Images / Wavebreakmedia)

A new study has found that following workplace bullying, men are twice as likely as women to leave their jobs.

The findings come from a study by researchers from Denmark’s Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen.

The report analyzed data from 3,182 employees from both public and private organizations who were part of Denmark’s 2006 Bullying Cohort Study.

The researchers found that workplace bullying was associated with negative self-reported health across the board.

However, for women, it resulted in double the amount of sick days taken, increased antidepressant use and other prolonged negative health effects.

Meanwhile, their male counterparts were twice as likely to leave the labour market for a period of time after facing workplace bullying.

One of the study’s authors, Aarhus University professor Tine Mundbjerg Eriksen, said in a press release that it was surprising that men did respond to office abuse by taking time off work.

“In fact, it seems that men who are bullied are more likely than women to go to work even though they’re actually sick,” she said.

“At the same time, it appears that bullying affects men’s salary level negatively, which indicates that the bullying hampers their opportunities for pay increases and promotions. “

The study found that both and men and women are equally exposed to work or “personal-related” bullying,” but men are slightly more likely to be faced with physical intimidation.

Eriksen also said that bullying can take shape as colleagues or bosses impeding an employee’s ability to do their job, making changes to their work, as well as giving fun and important tasks to others.

While only seven per cent of the study’s respondents reported that they were subjected to bullying, it seems to be a widespread issue.

A 2012 survey by CareerBuilder Canada of 552 full-time employees found that 45 per cent of respondents had been bullied, 26 per cent of whom addressed the issue by quitting their jobs.

Meanwhile, a 2014 study by Queen’s University found that 23 per cent of Canadians have experienced workplace harassment in their life.