Investigating the Level of Workplace Bullying among University Teachers and its Effect on their Mental Wellness and Work Motivation

Abstract

Bullying at work has a serious impact on employees' motivation and mental health. It is a phenomenon that is harmful to employee welfare and has been shown to have significant effects on people, organizations, and society at large. Several studies have reported about the outcomes of workplace bullying in work industry and business field. However, little studies are available from high education sector in Pakistan. This study examined the level of workplace bullying, work motivation and mental wellness among university teachers. The study also evaluated the effect of workplace bullying on work motivation and mental wellness among university teachers. Data were collected from 503 university teachers of three public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The study revealed that teachers had high level workplace bullying and low level of mental wellness and low level of work motivation. The study found that workplace bulling strongly affected the mental wellness and work motivation among university teachers. The results conclude that workplace bullying is a barrier to mental wellness and work motivation of university teachers. The findings of this study provide additional knowledge about the role of workplace bullying in higher education context. The study further suggests that higher education authorities may consider this as policy matter to reduce monitor bullying in the work environment and to increase work motivation and mental wellness among teachers.