Indian Perspectives on Workplace Bullying : A Decade of Insights

This book, recognizing that workplace bullying is a significant employment relations and occupational health and safety problem in India which warrants urgent and holistic intervention, presents empirical studies examining contextual factors, antecedents, mediators, moderators, processes, outcomes and solutions, thereby deepening our understanding of the phenomenon. The chapters showcased in the volume emphasize the paradoxical Indian sociocultural ethos whose simultaneous embrace of humanism versus identity-based, personalized and hierarchical relationships, materialism versus spiritualism and individualism versus collectivism both fuel yet quell misbehaviour. The inquiries which constitute this book engage both positivist and postpostivist paradigms, draw on several theoretical and substantive frameworks, utilize an array of methods, investigate numerous foci and cover various geographical regions in India, a range of industrial sectors and all levels of the organization. In so doing, they make pathbreaking contributions beyond country-specific insights to advance the frontiers of the thematic area worldwide. The chapters include important findings pertaining to digital workplaces, child labour, forgiveness, customer bullying, psychological contract violation, perceived organizational support, psychological capital and comprehensive prevention strategies encompassing psychosocial risks. As well as building on a decade of knowledge about workplace bullying in India, the book puts forward a research agenda on the topic for the subcontinent in particular and the field in general. The volume is of interest to researchers, practitioners and students of organizational studies, human resource management, industrial relations, labour law, corporate law, health sciences and social work. Dedication 5 Acknowledgements 6 Contents 7 About the Editors 9 Contributors 11 Abbreviations 13 List of Figures 16 List of Tables 17 Chapter 1: ‘Varieties of Workplace Bullying’ in India: Towards a Contextualized Understanding 19 1.1 Introduction 20 1.2 ‘Varieties of Workplace Bullying’: The Conceptual Spectrum of the Phenomenon 21 1.3 The Indian Situation: Sociocultural Underpinnings 26 1.3.1 Power, Individualism and Materialism 26 1.3.2 Conflation with Social Categories 31 1.3.3 Strain/Ambivalence, Subservience and Fatalism Versus Dignity, Agency and Well-Being 34 1.3.4 Problem-Focused Coping, Organizational Options, Collectivization and Litigation 35 1.3.5 Emotion-Focused Coping, Spiritualism and Social Support 38 1.4 Furthering Our Insights into Workplace Bullying in India 41 References 45 Chapter 2: Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health: Role of Negative Emotions and Perceived Organizational Support 51 2.1 Introduction 52 2.2 Theoretical Background and Research Hypotheses 54 2.2.1 The Relationship Between Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health 54 2.2.2 The Mediating Role of Negative Emotions in the Relationship Between Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health 55 2.2.3 The Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) in the Relationship Between Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health 56 2.3 Research Method 57 2.3.1 Sampling Design and Data Collection 57 2.3.2 Measuring Instruments 58 2.3.3 Data Analysis 60 2.4 Results and Findings 60 2.4.1 Measurement Model 61 2.4.2 Structural Model 61 2.5 Discussion 67 2.5.1 Theoretical and Managerial Implications 69 2.5.2 Limitations and Future Research Directions 70 2.6 Conclusion 70 Appendix: Workplace Bullying Questionnaire - 30 items NAQ (Ciby 2016) 71 References 72 Chapter 3: Forgiveness: A New Dynamic in Workplace Bullying 76 3.1 Introduction 76 3.2 The Relevance of Forgiveness in Workplace Bullying 77 3.3 The Study Context 78 3.4 Methodology 79 3.5 Enacting Genuine Forgiveness 81 3.6 Moving on Without Forgiving 84 3.7 Maintaining Unforgiveness 87 3.8 Discussion 90 3.9 Conclusion 92 References 92 Chapter 4: Linking Workplace Bullying and Work Outcomes: Mediating Role of Psychological Contract Violation and Moderating Role of Psychosocial Safety Climate 96 4.1 Introduction 97 4.2 Indian Context of the Study 99 4.3 Theoretical Background and Hypotheses Development 100 4.3.1 Social Exchange Theory 100 4.3.2 Workplace Bullying and Innovative Work Behaviour Relationship 101 4.3.3 Workplace Bullying and Intention to Quit Relationship 101 4.3.4 Psychological Contract Violation as a Mediator in Workplace Bullying-Outcome Relationship 102 4.3.5 Psychosocial Safety Climate as a Moderator of Workplace Bullying-PCV Relationship 103 4.4 Method 104 4.4.1 Sample and Study Procedure 104 4.4.2 Sample Characteristics 106 4.4.3 Prevalence of Workplace Bullying 106 4.4.4 Measures 106 4.4.4.1 Workplace Bullying 107 4.4.4.2 Innovative Work Behaviour 107 4.4.4.3 Intention to Quit 107 4.4.4.4 Psychological Contract Violation 107 4.4.4.5 Psychosocial Safety Climate 108 4.4.5 Control Variables 108 4.4.6 Common Method Variance 108 4.5 Analytical Strategy 109 4.6 Results 110 4.6.1 Testing Direct and Mediated Effects 110 4.6.2 Testing Moderation 110 4.7 Discussion 113 4.7.1 Theoretical Contributions 115 4.7.2 Managerial Implications 117 4.7.3 Limitations of the Study and Future Research Directions 118 4.8 Conclusion 118 References 119 Chapter 5: Workplace Bullying and Organizational Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Capital and Burnout in Human Services Sector of India 128 5.1 Introduction 129 5.2 Theoretical Framework and Hypotheses Development 131 5.2.1 Prevalence of Workplace Bullying 131 5.2.1.1 Indian Context 132 5.2.1.2 Workplace Bullying and Human Services Sector 133 5.3 Workplace Bullying and Organizational Well-Being 134 5.3.1 Burnout as a Mediator 136 5.3.2 PsyCap as a Moderator 138 5.4 Methodology 140 5.4.1 Sample 140 5.4.2 Measures 140 5.4.2.1 Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) 140 5.4.2.2 Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale 141 5.4.2.3 Turnover Intention Questionnaire 141 5.4.2.4 Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) 141 5.4.2.5 PsyCap Questionnaire (PCQ) 141 5.4.2.6 Control Variables 142 5.4.3 Statistical Analyses 142 5.5 Results 143 5.5.1 Data Screening and Descriptive Statistics 143 5.5.2 Confirmatory Factor Analyses 143 5.5.2.1 Model Fitness 143 5.5.2.2 Reliability and Validity 144 5.5.2.3 Common Method Variance (CMV) 145 5.5.2.4 Hypotheses Testing 145 5.6 Discussion 147 5.6.1 Theoretical Implications 148 5.6.2 Practical Implications 149 5.6.3 Methodological Limitations 150 5.6.4 Implications for Future Research 151 5.7 Conclusion 151 References 152 Chapter 6: Indian Freelancers’ Experiences of Bullying on Online Labour Markets: Insights into Digital Workplaces in the Informal Economy 164 6.1 Introduction 165 6.2 Target Experiences of Bullying in Conventional Workplaces 165 6.3 Indian Freelancers on OLMs 168 6.4 Methodology 169 6.5 Findings 171 6.5.1 Participants’ Sociodemographic Details 171 6.5.2 Sources and Manifestations of Bullying Experienced on OLMs 171 6.5.3 Aetiology of Bullying Experienced on OLMs 171 6.5.4 Outcomes of Bullying Experienced on OLMs 172 6.5.5 Problem-Focused Coping 172 6.5.6 Emotion-Focused Coping 176 6.6 Discussion 179 6.6.1 Targets’ Experiences of Bullying in Digital Workplaces 179 6.6.2 Workplace Bullying and the Informal Economy with Special Reference to India 182 6.7 Conclusion 184 References 185 Chapter 7: Abuse Faced by Child Labourers: Novel Territory in Workplace Bullying 189 7.1 Introduction 190 7.2 Understanding Child Labour 191 7.3 The Present Study: Bt Cottonseed Farming in India 195 7.4 Methodology 197 7.4.1 Data Collection and Analysis: Trend Survey 198 7.4.2 Data Collection and Analysis: Qualitative Interviews 199 7.5 A Backdrop of Exploitation 199 7.6 Experiences of Abuse: Physical Violence, Bullying and Sexual Harassment 202 7.6.1 Key Informants’ Views 202 7.6.1.1 The Dynamics Underlying the Abuse of Child Labourers 202 7.6.1.2 Manifestations 203 7.6.1.3 Impact and Coping 204 7.6.1.4 Interventions 205 7.6.2 Mates’ Views 205 7.6.2.1 Manifestations 205 7.6.2.2 The Protective Influence of Mates 206 7.6.2.3 Interventions 207 7.6.2.4 Children’s Coping and Resistance 207 7.6.3 Children’s Views 208 7.6.3.1 Manifestations 208 7.6.3.2 Absence of Redress 209 7.6.3.3 Coping and Resistance 209 7.7 Discussion 211 7.8 Conclusion 215 References 216 Chapter 8: Beauty Service Workers’ Encounters with Abusive Customers: Furthering the Concept of External Bullying at Work 221 8.1 Introduction 222 8.2 External Bullying at Work: What We Know So Far 222 8.3 The Context of Beauty Service Work 224 8.4 The Indian Situation 226 8.5 Methodology 228 8.6 Participants’ Experiences of External Bullying at Work,  230 8.6.1 Karan 230 8.6.2 Syed 231 8.6.3 Divya 233 8.6.4 Anam 235 8.6.5 Bhavin 236 8.6.6 Geetika 238 8.7 Being Cornered Yet Embracing Empowerment 240 8.7.1 Being Cornered 240 8.7.2 Embracing Empowerment 242 8.8 New Theoretical Contributions to External Bullying at Work 245 8.9 Conclusion 247 References 248 Chapter 9: Workplace Bullying in India: The Current Policy Context, Implications and Future Directions 252 9.1 Workplace Bullying: A Psychosocial Risk 252 9.2 Bullying at Work in India 255 9.3 Interventions for Managing Psychosocial Risks 256 9.4 Policy Initiatives to Deal with Bullying at Work 258 9.5 Methodology 260 9.5.1 Interview Schedule Development 261 9.5.2 Participants 261 9.6 Findings 261 9.6.1 Policy Context in India 262 9.6.1.1 Employer Responsibilities 263 9.6.1.2 Worker/Representative Responsibilities 264 9.6.1.3 Psychosocial Context: With a Focus on Bullying and Harassment at Work 264 9.6.2 Interview Findings 266 9.6.2.1 Challenges Related to Psychosocial Risks (Including Bullying at Work) at Macro-Level and Policy-Level Initiatives 266 9.6.2.2 Main Drivers and Success Factors for the Development and Implementation of Policy-Level Interventions 267 9.6.2.3 Main Barriers in the Development and Implementation of Policy-Level Interventions 268 9.6.2.4 Evaluation and Impact of Policy-Level Interventions 269 9.6.2.5 The Role of Business Responsibility and Ethical Issues in Relation to Psychosocial Risk Management 270 9.6.2.6 Main Priorities at Policy Level in Relation to Psychosocial Risk Management 271 9.7 Discussion 272 9.8 Conclusion 274 References 275 Front Matter ....Pages i-xxii ‘Varieties of Workplace Bullying’ in India: Towards a Contextualized Understanding (Premilla D’Cruz, Ernesto Noronha, Ananya Syal)....Pages 1-32 Workplace Bullying and Physical Ill-Health: Role of Negative Emotions and Perceived Organizational Support (Mariam Ciby, R. P. Raya)....Pages 33-57 Forgiveness: A New Dynamic in Workplace Bullying (Nidhi Mishra, Premilla D’Cruz, Parvinder Gupta, Ernesto Noronha)....Pages 59-78 Linking Workplace Bullying and Work Outcomes: Mediating Role of Psychological Contract Violation and Moderating Role of Psychosocial Safety Climate (Arpana Rai, Upasna A. Agarwal)....Pages 79-110 Workplace Bullying and Organizational Well-Being: A Moderated Mediation Model of Psychological Capital and Burnout in Human Services Sector of India (Richa Gupta, Arti Bakhshi)....Pages 111-146 Indian Freelancers’ Experiences of Bullying on Online Labour Markets: Insights into Digital Workplaces in the Informal Economy (Ernesto Noronha, Premilla D’Cruz)....Pages 147-171 Abuse Faced by Child Labourers: Novel Territory in Workplace Bullying (Muneeb Ul Lateef Banday, Saikat Chakraborty, Premilla D’Cruz, Ernesto Noronha)....Pages 173-204 Beauty Service Workers’ Encounters with Abusive Customers: Furthering the Concept of External Bullying at Work (Avina Mendonca, Premilla D’Cruz, Ernesto Noronha)....Pages 205-235 Workplace Bullying in India: The Current Policy Context, Implications and Future Directions (Aditya Jain)....Pages 237-263