A Theoretical Study on Workplace Bullying and Sexual Harassment amongst First Responders

Abstract

The phenomenon of workplace bullying and sexual harassment amongst first responders for the purpose of this study involves a thorough, comprehensive review of the literature. This examination demonstrates the effects workplace bullying, and sexual harassment has across Emergency Service Organizations [ESOs] and the impact on targets as being severe and pervasive, with negative consequences for the targets and the organizations in which they work. During the exploration of this work, 305 articles were reviewed and then screened through Hermeneutic research methods to net 209 studies in the results. Core themes that emerged support that the phenomenon has severe implications for the psychological health of targets, organizational culture implications and public safety outcomes that are serious, pervasive and have negative consequences for individuals, the organization and the public. Data in this study show that factors that influence workplace bullying and sexual harassment include organizational culture (acceptable) and a “rite of passage” which creates a groupthink mentality that normalizes and creates a toxic culture ripe for incivility within emergency service organizations. The impact on targets includes severe psychological harm and the depletion of psychological resource that has long-lasting negative mental health implications. Also, data shows that there are public safety implications for workplace bullying, and sexual harassment as targets experience an erosion of professional competence and burnout that can lead to catastrophic consequences regarding critical incidents with clients.