The Perceived Effects of Workplace Bullying: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and understand how individuals perceived their personal, lived experiences of workplace bullying and how it affected job satisfaction, organizational, and/or educational culture in the Kentuckiana area. Two theoretical foundations used for this study were Schein's Organizational Culture Model and Hackman and Oldham's Work Design Model. The study utilized two research questions: (1) What are the lived experiences and perceived effects of workplace bullying on job satisfaction from the perspective of organizational and/or educational employees in the Kentuckiana area who have experienced it? (2) What are the lived experiences and perceived effects of workplace bullying on organizational and/or educational culture from the perspective of employees in the Kentuckiana area who have experienced it? This study used 15 participants from the Kentuckiana area. The data were analyzed using the NVivo qualitative software. In total, six themes emerged from data collection. These themes were job dissatisfaction due to behaviors of Human Resource personnel, lack of enforced policies, and, verbal, mental, and communications technology abuse; and, negative organizational culture due to lack of leadership responsibility and accountability; unethical boundaries, and three threats of murder or death. This study could assist leaders in recognizing and understanding the phenomenon, how it affects job satisfaction, organizational culture, and to help mitigate workplace bullying.