Abstract
Workplace bullying has become a prominent area of research in the past decade. The costs to organisations as a result of workplace bullying include high rates of absenteeism and sickness, decreased productivity, and high turnover (Adams, 1997; Randall, 1992; Rayner, 1998). Other studies highlight a number of economic costs associated with workplace bullying because of related health problems. Problems include decreased psychological well being (Gemzoe Mikkelsen & Einarsen, 2000), psychosomatic stress (Leymann, 1990), anxiety (McCarthy, Sheehan & Kearns, 1995; Niedl, 1996), depression (O'Moore, Seigne, McGuire & Smith, 1998) and burnout (Einarsen, Matthiesen & Skogstad, 1998). Rayner (1999) suggests that 25% of bullied workers leave their jobs as a result of their treatment, thus implying costs associated with turnover. Such costs are significant indicators of human resource problems within organisations. What is less clear is how organisations might accumulate data that indicates the extent of workplace bullying in an organisation. To this end, the paper will discuss and present a data collection system for collecting data that may indicate that workplace bullying is occurring. The system consists of a modified Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) database with a web-based interface for the purpose of data collection. Using the web-based interface, individual employees are able to access their own personnel record for the purpose of recording bullying incidents. The paper will also introduce a preliminary expert system based on reported analysis of bullying incidents. The expert system is intended to make the analysis of each reported case objective (initially at least) and identify cases needing further attention. The rule base for that system is by no means conclusive but its sophistication is expandable (in terms of further refinements) depending on more subsequent analysis of reported bullying cases. The database may be of interest to academics and practitioners working with people in organisations.