The term mobbing belongs to the English language and refers to harassing, harassing or persecuting . In our language , the concept is used to specifically refer to workplace harassment .
Mobbing, therefore, occurs when one or more people harass a worker in the place where they carry out their work obligations or even outside of it. Psychological violence is exercised systematically through different actions that can cause anything from discomfort to fear or depression .
Harassment can occur downwards (from the boss to an employee), horizontally (between colleagues) or upwards (from a subordinate to his or her hierarchical superior). In more serious situations, mobbing can include physical attacks .
The purpose of mobbing is for the victim to leave their job . The harasser, who usually feels that the person being harassed is harming his interests, resorts to intimidation and harassment to achieve his objective .
Mobbing should not be confused with other work problems. A worker may be stressed or even suffer from the so-called burnout syndrome due to issues inherent to their activity, without another individual intentionally bothering them .
Among the most common practices of mobbing are the excessive assignment of tasks , the establishment of unattainable goals, verbal attacks in public and the removal of responsibilities as a minimization mechanism. The intention is that the employee does not feel comfortable or satisfied at any time.
When an employer assigns an excessive amount of tasks to an employee for the purpose of mobbing, they usually do not stop at their reaction, no matter how negative it may be. We must understand that someone capable of torturing another is not in direct contact with their feelings nor does they show empathy for the suffering of others. This misanthropic trait leads him to focus solely on obtaining benefits, regardless of the consequences.
Depending on the case, the increase in tasks can be progressive or sudden . Of course, if it is sudden it can arouse suspicions in other employees about mobbing, and only for this reason or for another reason that could harm the employer or get in the way of its plans is it possible that it will do so little by little. The process usually consists of testing his resistance until he breaks, so that he is the one who begins the conflict publicly, either through a complaint or by presenting his resignation.
The consequences of mobbing depend on each case. The victim may suffer from self-esteem problems, anguish and anxiety attacks; somatize the conflict with headaches and intestinal disorders; or even contract mental illness .
Let's look at some of the consequences in greater depth, starting with those that take place on a psychological level:
* self-confidence decreases, especially with regard to one's own professional abilities;
* a feeling of guilt arises, often fueled by the environment, as if the problem had started due to the employee's action;
* Sleep disorders, extreme fatigue, problems in personal relationships, depression and personality changes appear.
Faced with these and other problems, it is common for the employee to request leave from work with the intention of resting and resuming their activity in better conditions. However, the employer often uses this against you; for example, reproaching him for his lack of commitment to the company or his poor performance.
On a personal level, given the employee's immense frustration with mobbing, it is not unusual for them to become aggressive against their friends and family. Needless to say, this leads to fights and separations that make their situation even worse. If his private life is destroyed, the stalker is almost guaranteed success, since his victim cannot rely on anyone and so ends up falling sooner or later.