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Can Workplace Mobbing be left Unresolved? | Labour Law
Workplace mobbing or harassment must be addressed not only for ethical reasons but also due to legal liability. Unfortunately, experience shows that mobbing situations are often ignored out of fear, ignorance, or other reasons.
How to avoid mistakes when identifying mobbing?
Not every failed joke among colleagues will be mockery, and not every unpleasant word from a supervisor will be mobbing. When noticing something suspicious, it is most effective to consult with a specialist in the field. It is especially important to seek an independent trusted person in situations where there are concerns that discussing mobbing with employees or management will not bring the desired improvement or may even turn against oneself.
https://leadell.lv/en/mobbing-in-the-workplace-spotted-labour-law/
What is mobbing?
Mobbing is systematic hostile and unethical communication or actions, which can manifest in verbal humiliation, gossiping, intimidation, as well as exclusion from the group or ignoring. Generally, mobbing entails persistent malicious behavior carried out by management and/or colleagues. What distinguishes mobbing from temporary conflicts is the repetition, frequency, and duration of actions.
Different forms of mobbing:
1. Physical mobbing involves the use of force against another person or causing material damage.
2. Verbal mobbing includes verbal humiliation, mocking, ridiculing, gossiping, spreading rumors, intimidation, belittling, embarrassment, coercion, making demeaning remarks and comments, unjustified criticism.
3. Exclusion or covert mobbing involves exclusion from the group, ignoring, failure to explain tasks, assigning impossible tasks or not assigning tasks for a prolonged period, isolation, not being informed about meetings, disregarding opinions.
Can an employer ignore mobbing?
According to Labour Law, the employer has a duty to ensure fair, safe, and healthy working conditions. In addition to the duties imposed by law, it is also in the employer’s interest to implement management policies that promote sustainability and employee well-being.
Untackled mobbing harms business
The damage caused by mobbing directly impacts employee performance, resulting in a decline in company performance. Failing to address the problem in a timely manner may lead to turnover among employees, and the issue of mobbing within the collective can harm the employer’s reputation and hinder the recruitment of new employees. Additionally, the employer may have to compensate for moral damages, face complaints of the State Labor Inspectorate, and potential lawsuits.
More about mobbing and its manifestations can be read in English in the report prepared by the International Labor Organization or in Latvian in the informational material provided by the Ombudsman.
What to do in case of uncertainties?
Read more:
https://leadell.lv/en/8-tips-for-compliant-video-surveillance-data-protection/
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