harassment - a crime in the workplace 
bullying in Switzerland boom. Large companies such as ABB, Ciba and "Winterthur" have recognized the extent of the problem and take preventive efforts. Because bullying is for them the money.
Pierrette S. *, the head of physiotherapy at the hospital was Altdorf, take any more than they are on 17 February this year, hanged himself in the toilet next to their workplace. For her long-time partner Ruth K. * was the choice of the place is no coincidence: "That would send a signal Pierrette For the years of witch-hunt, which it was exposed at work, has worn them.." Accordingly, fell from the obituary: "May the wrong that was done to you and cost your life, be expiated in this world."
In Uri hospital sees the case differently. With bullying, it is said, have the "do nothing to clear." Ms. S. had "simply can not cope, that they had to withdraw due to lack of leadership by the management of physical therapy."
Ruth K. does not deny that her friend was very much affected, as they had opened their hospital in her demotion. This followed, however, were "countless harassment, the continued non-compliance with orders, by spreading false rumors to sabotage the work of Pierrettes up to the anonymous telephone terror".
jealousy and envy were the patients very popular and appreciated by many expert physicians, the anti-mood fueled their employees in addition to them. Lack of support from their superiors, clear structures and rules of mandatory skills they have finally seen a way out of the vicious cycle more. Ruth K. joined the obituary for her friend as saying: "Deeply shocked, but full of understanding, we say goodbye."
The tragic story of 43 year-old Pierrette page is not an isolated case. In Germany alone, according to experts, can be a year in 2000 suicides from bullying back. In times of economic crisis, the willingness to support a colleague, a subordinate or a boss is "wegzumobben" or hinauszuekeln from the company, much greater than in the phases of the boom. Bullying is, it was developing very quickly in a climate of fear and insecurity among workers.
Who am confronted daily with new shocking reports of personal and job cuts, restructuring, rationalization and concentration, are very often with a general defensive reaction. The competition at work had deteriorated massively, and still held many deliberately quiet, no one would notice. Any aggression would be swallowed and the widespread frustration at the seemingly weakest then reacted in a team.
bullying-affected ", says Anna Stadelmann by the union VPOD, "Often have the function of a scapegoat." According to the principle of "Does it affect my colleagues, it takes at least not me," the selfishness do a lot of places "appalling Flowers. Lack of moral courage would colleagues thus implied spectators of a psychological process where they meet at least partly to blame.
am quite general bullying, so Stadelmann, internally by rigid hierarchical structures, unclear allocation of task areas or chaotic Organisatinsabläufe favors. "Bullying," says the union secretary, "is always a management problem of superiors, who do not perceive their responsibility to their subordinates to look away, aware or mitmobben even myself. "work places that lack it also in appropriate conflict resolution strategies were, almost an" ideal breeding ground for bullying.
Hardly surprising, is not it true that the social sector and public administration, according to a German study clearly stronger with bullying are confronted with as a private industry. While the officials and the nurse rather on values such as harmony and unity-oriented, were flying in a private company scheller the scraps, and a conflict would come to the table. The sooner this is done, the experts say, the more successful a company can prevent bullying in their ranks.
exactly what should really be the target of each employer. "For no one," says Peter Vonlanthen, the managing director of Zurich Commercial Association ZKV, "may have an interest in workplace bullying." Bullying is ausschlieslich destructive, it will eat time, energy and vast sums of money. According to international estimates, devouring one case per year between 30,000 and 100,000 francs in direct and indirect costs. In Germany, the companies and the economy has already lost tens of billions annually, in Switzerland, the loss of two billion francs per year.
beat Both disease, but also expensive for fluctuation. Loss of productivity, creativity and performance come to this. Sun bullying affected in the first year of the Terrorisiertwerdens would provide for 90 percent of their original power, in the second year 70 and in year barely half. Not to be underestimated is episodes such as general job dissatisfaction, brand damage and negative customer reaction. Not to mention sometimes substantial severance or sick pay, get the bullying affected granted after leaving the company.
Many companies and businesses have recognized the urgency of the problem now. Back in February of last year, two hundred people attended a symposium of the Mercantile Association Zurich on bullying part. In this framework, because the idea for the publication of the "first book of bullying Switzerland" and that establishing the "Society against psychosocial stress and bullying" (GPSM) was born, was raised six months ago, from baptism. The GPSM dedicated to research and prevention, but also the management and support for bullying cases.
The book "Bullying - Understanding - Overcome - Do," which appeared in mid-July, is aimed specifically at "executives and personnel managers." According to co-author Rossella Torre stood in its guidance "Bullying from a business perspective, rather than from the perspective of the victim in the center."
In addition, demand more and more companies and administrations, the services the Commercial Association of Zurich and the VPOD that have reported bullying experts.
Individual companies like Suva or the Winterthur insurance, but also the Government Adliswil ZH even have organized lectures for their staff was informed that about bullying. In Winterthur, took two hundred people participated in this event, which took place outside the workplace. Article in the newspaper staff were used to further research the subject matter. Publications in the journal house was also made in ABB, Ciba-Geigy or Coop Zurich to raise awareness of the workforce for the delicate Phenomenon used. Besides house counterparts, or focal points have been made public, the mobbing concerned with words and deeds.
is especially sought to include information about bullying to the PTT-Telecom. Apart from a company's internal technical conference for all social workers from an employee survey was conducted in the Basel area. The result: Not quite five percent of respondents feel affected by bullying. The staffing of the PTT is also a member of the Society against psychosocial stress and bullying. "
is Elsewhere, the sensitivity to the common problem with serious consequences even more weakly developed. It is just with Union Bank of Switzerland, who, like all big banks, downsizing and restructuring are connected with an almost "classical" potential for conflict in the house, look has become disinterested in the topic. Bullying is a buzzword, said the spokesman, the leave does not hold. In the SBG, proceed with the tried and true method, "Be nice to each other!"
Also at the Zurich University Hospital, a job that is regarded by experts as particularly virulent bullying cooker, you have paid no attention to the problem yet.
VPOD secretary Anna Stadelmann know from experience that form the SBG and the University Hospital, no exceptions. In many Companies there is still a "strong defenses" against the bullying. "In many places, the problem with slogans like" With us not "or" controversy's in the best families "played down in an irresponsible manner.
But bullying is almost the opposite of a unique case and where immediate cleanup. "bullying," said Stadler, "is systematic, long-lasting psychological terror, which may also include elements of physical and sexual violence."
usually starts the bullying process gradually, by a person is greeted, or not invited to the coffee break. The withholding of important information and therefore the torpedoing of their work follows. Attacks on privacy, the appearance or religion to follow. Continued Abqualifikation the work done is already seen as escalation. Assaults, for example, the repeated deletion of a computer memory, but also sexual harassment happen. The goal is always the same: the victim is to be hinausgeekelt.
advised the parties in a vicious circle of anger, depression and helplessness. Regardless of what they are doing all they will be interpreted negatively. They often respond with physical symptoms such as insomnia, headache, or gastrointestinal complaints on terror. Not infrequently this is also a visit to a psychiatrist suggested. draws erosion of self-doubt of one or the other this "proposal", would be seriously considered.
to a continuation of the employment relationship at this time is impossible to imagine before, unless the operation enables an internal transfer. Otherwise it works now only with issues such as financial compensation and vocational rehabilitation. "Almost hopeless," said the expert, be it legally proceed. Because the term "bullying" was not yet appeared in any legal case.
In particularly bad cases can slide bullying affected in alcoholism or drug dependency, while others have psychiatric interned. Third commit suicide. Günther Tschanun, head of the Zurich Building Inspection endured the poisoned work environment and the serious differences with employees no longer 1986 and shot four of them and wounding a fifth fatal. Peter Vonlanthen by the CPC lists the case Tschanun the "most spectacular bullying story" of Switzerland.
has recently Vonlanthen himself, who is often referred to as a "preacher comes to bullying, had publicly talked about. He is, it is said, have offered an employee a bonus if it succeed, move Vonlanthen assistant to resign. Incitement to bullying?
Vonlanthen contradicts vehemently: "I was once angry with my assistant." From out of anger him a thoughtless saying to the aforementioned employees had slipped out. He did this when asked what would happen if Vonlanthen's assistant does not come clear to him and announce, said: "Then many 'I tell you." This was by no means serious. His assistant was later even stated in writing that they not feel this incident as bullying. Additionally, according to Vonlanthen, she was still employed at the CPC in the old function.
* Names changed
Sunday newspaper, 1996
