Relation between type of mobbing behavior and triggering event

Introduction
Although mobbing is a process, categorizing mobbing behaviors could help the design of prevention. The aim is to discuss relations between type of mobbing behavior and triggering event.

Methods
Qualitative research, 18 cases, assisted in the Occupational Health Service of Hospital das Clinicas in São Paulo, Brazil. Data was collected by psychologist via individual semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was performed, followed by categorizing all results and creating a frequency distribution.

Results
Most frequent types of mobbing actions were: humiliations (94%), concerning job content, work pressure and firing menaces (72%), concerning wages, benefits and worker’s rights (66%) and discriminations and lack of equity (61%). Triggering events were: 1) discovery of fraud: employee could denounce, or refuse to participate. The counteroffensive aim in first case, is to neutralize the employee; in second case to punish him; 2) management change: the aim is to put things and employees into a new frame, changing everything; 3) employee’s promotion leading to more contact with a bully superior: the aim is to affirm bully’s authority; 4) false accusation of beginning rumors on the company administrator: the aim is to discredit the employee; 5) dispute over job: colleagues want to exclude the employee, their aim is to discredit him; 6) to become a permanent worker (and supervisor not): the aim is to punish the employee. The strategy in each case is compatible with the counteroffensive aim and composed of various mobbing behaviors. Aggravating circumstances were: worker’s characteristics (sex, race, socio economic level, and leadership), worker’s performance (speed, experience, and quality), and worker’s stability by civil rights.

Discussion
This research pointed to the complex nature of bullying processes, including mobbing behaviors, counteroffensive strategies to deal with employees. These strategies are diverse but in accordance with the triggering event. Victims´ characteristics can act as aggravating factors.