Workplace bullying has been recognized as a major occupational
stressor since the mid 1980s. A number of different terms have been
used to describe it, including employee abuse, emotional abuse,
mistreatment and neglect at work, mobbing, and harassment. In the
United Kingdom, a number of reports from trades unions illustrating
the pain, psychological distress, physical illness, and career damage
suffered by the victims of bullying first drew attention to the issue.
However, academic interest in the issue began only recently, and there
are still few empirical studies. The most systematic research comes
from Scandinavia, where there is strong public awareness and antibullying
legislation.
Handling Emotional Abuse: An Investigation into Workplace Bullying/Mobbing