Abstract
Introduction: Mobbing is defined as the use of a systematic and sustained attack (bullying) against a predetermined victim among colleagues or between a top-tier employee and a bottom-tier one in the hierarchy in order to induce him to quit his job.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to delve into mobbing in the workplace against the nursing staff in the pediatric departments of one of the largest hospitals in Thessaloniki.
Methodology: This study is addressed to nurses working in one of the major hospitals in Thessaloniki; indeed, they work at the pediatric departments of the hospital. It will examine carefully any possible exposure to mobbing. The data have been collected through questionnaires containing 51 questions identifying 6 factors that determine mobbing in the workplace.
Results: It is obvious that while studying the demographic characteristics of the individuals in the survey sample, most of them are women, while men are fewer. Regarding the marital status of the respondents, a high percentage of the sample is married, a small percentage is single, divorced and not one of them is a widow or a widower. In addition, a small percentage of respondents are between 26-35 years old, the highest percentage of respondents are between 36-45 years old, a slightly lower percentage is found between 46-55 years old and only a few of the respondents are between 56-65 years old. Last but not least, a small percentage of the respondents are Registered Nurses (University Education), the majority of the sample are Registered Nurses (Technological Institution Education) while Licensed Practical Nurses are slightly fewer than the latter ones.
Conclusions: Moral harassment (Moral Mobbing) in the workplace is not a static phenomenon affecting only weak and vulnerable people. Antithetically, it is a multidimensional and complex phenomenon and it should be seen both as an interaction of the individual and social characteristics amongst the victim, the victimiser and the organizational culture of the workplace.