Across South Africa, many employees dread going to work, not because of the workload itself, but because of toxic workplace environments driven by corporate bullying.
From intimidation and harassment to isolation and psychological abuse, workplace bullying is increasingly being recognised as a major employee relations issue with serious consequences for both employees and businesses.
According to the South African Institute of Employee Relations Professionals, corporate bullying is one of the most damaging yet underreported problems affecting South African workplaces today.
What is corporate bullying?
Corporate bullying refers to repeated abuse of power directed at employees or groups within the workplace.
It often creates a hostile working environment that negatively impacts dignity, confidence and psychological safety.
Bullying can take many forms, including:
- verbal abuse
- victimisation
- intimidation
- passive-aggressive behaviour
- cyberbullying
- psychological abuse
- workplace isolation
- harassment
According to Lwandile Hasheni, the founder of SAIERP, the issue frequently stems from abuse of authority and professional jealousy within organisations.
“Every measure should be taken to deal with harassment in the work environment because it negatively impacts both employers and employees,” says Hasheni.
How workplace bullying affects businesses
While the emotional toll on employees is significant, the long-term business impact is equally serious.
Hasheni warns that toxic workplace cultures eventually damage overall company performance.
“Corporate bullying leads to a drop in productivity, a stifling of organisational culture and unavoidable toxicity in the workplace,” he explains.
“It can also lead to less engaged and despondent employees as well as high staff turnover.”
According to SAIERP, organisations affected by workplace bullying often experience:
- declining employee morale
- reduced productivity
- increased absenteeism
- poor staff retention
- damaged workplace culture
- lower organisational trust
Over time, these issues can directly affect profitability and operational performance.
Why employees often stay silent
One of the biggest challenges surrounding corporate bullying is that alleged perpetrators are often individuals in senior management positions.
This creates fear among employees who worry about retaliation, victimisation or losing their jobs if they report misconduct.
Hasheni says many victims feel trapped, especially in organisations where bullying behaviour becomes normalised within company culture.
“Practically all the above is impossible in some organisations, especially if bullying is part of the organisational culture,” he says.
“In cases like these, all perpetrators are simply protected, and victims choose to keep quiet.”
The importance of documenting workplace bullying
SAIERP strongly advises employees experiencing bullying to keep detailed evidence of incidents.
Hasheni says maintaining records is one of the most important steps victims can take.
“Ideally, a victim of this scary scourge must make sure to diarise everything that happens to them,” he explains.
“They should collate evidence to ensure the perpetrator is exposed.”
Employees are encouraged to:
- keep written records of incidents
- save emails or messages
- document witnesses
- report behaviour through official channels
- review company anti-bullying policies
Seeking support from trusted colleagues, legal professionals or mental health experts is also encouraged.
SAIERP relaunches workplace bullying hotline
To help employees facing workplace abuse, SAIERP is reactivating its Corporate Bullying Hotline.
The initiative allows workers to report bullying anonymously while protecting their identities from possible retaliation.
According to SAIERP, reported cases are investigated further before comprehensive reports are prepared and companies are approached to address the allegations.
The organisation says the goal is to promote accountability, healthier labour relations and safer workplace environments across South Africa.
Why psychological safety matters in modern workplaces
As conversations around employee wellness and workplace culture continue growing globally, experts warn that psychological safety is becoming increasingly important for organisational success.
Healthy workplace environments often lead to:
- stronger employee engagement
- improved collaboration
- better productivity
- lower staff turnover
- stronger leadership cultures
Hasheni believes addressing corporate bullying is essential not only for employee wellbeing but also for long-term business sustainability.
“It’s critical that corporate bullying is addressed, so employees can uphold their right not to be relentlessly troubled at work, which enables them to perform at their best and protect their dignity,” he says.
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