JPA Daily Buzz - Edisi 13/2025

page 2 A study by the Psychology Management Division (2025) revealed that 53,209 or 18 percent of 296,462 public servants admitted to having been bullied in the workplace. It is equivalent to nearly 1 in every 23 public servants. This alarming statistics signals that workplace bullying is no longer an isolated issue but a serious phenomenon that demands firm policy attention, decisive management action and a systematic psychological support. In line with this, findings by Zakaria et al. (2020) revealed that more than 30 percent of employees in both the public and private sectors have experienced at least one form of workplace bullying. This fact underscores that the culture of bullying is silently spreading across workplaces, leaving profound and lasting effects on employees’ wellbeing and morale. Forms of Bullying in Organisations Workplace bullying can manifest in various forms, including verbal humiliation, emotional pressure, social exclusion, physical threats and even cyberbullying. It also encompasses unfair workloads, abuse of authority, and organisational cultures that allow such behaviours to persist, ultimately harming employees’ wellbeing and productivity. For instance, a public servant who is consistently excluded from meetings or denied access to important information may be considered a victim of bullying. In some cases, department heads or supervisors misuse their authority by imposing unreasonable workloads, issuing threats of poor performance evaluations, or warning of disciplinary action. This aligns with the findings of Einarsen et al. (2020), which reported that 34 percent of workplace bullying cases involve manipulation of job tasks and performance assessments. I mpact on Productivity and Mental Health Workplace bullying is a serious issue that profoundly affects both individual wellbeing and organisational productivity. Although it often occurs in subtle forms, workplace bullying remains poorly understood and underreported. Victims commonly experience severe emotional distress, sleep disturbances, loss of motivation, and a decline in work morale, and sometimes to the extent of taking prolonged leave or resigning to protect their mental health. A study by Hassan et al. (2021) found that public servants who experienced workplace bullying reported significantly higher levels of job stress and burnout symptoms compared to their non-bullied counterparts, clearly indicating the deep psychological impact of such behaviour. Beyond individual suffering, bullying also tarnishes an organisation’s reputation and image, especially when complaints go viral on. social media. It. is directly