PhD focuses on workplace bullying

Dr Ashlesha Singh’s desire to make a meaningful difference in the workplace and become an anti-bullying ambassador earned her a PhD in Psychology. Her study investigated employees and managers’ experiences of workplace bullying in a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

Employing interpretative phenomenological analysis, Singh examined the reasons for bullying at work and crafted systemic interventions to counteract it.

The study also pointed to a lack of knowledge of incidents of workplace bullying at the research site. ‘Bullying at work can take many different forms, but frequent ones include workplace aggression, social and job isolation, harassment, victimisation, humiliation, and intrusion,’ said Singh.

Her research highlights that employees and managers struggle with the negative effects of workplace bullying on their social, psychological, physical, and organisational well-being despite robust approaches to combat the phenomenon.

In offering significant, systemic intervention guidelines to prevent bullying, the study addressed the lack of effective preventative measures at local government institutions. ‘This is important since there is not much research on the topic in local municipalities within KwaZulu-Natal,’ she said.    

Singh added that she did not encounter many challenges in conducting her research as the study participants and leadership were passionate about understanding, managing, and preventing bullying in the workplace. As a result, she was able to complete her thesis on time and achieve a high standard with little supervision.

Singh described her PhD journey as surreal and rewarding on a professional and personal level. ‘My family and friends provided constant encouragement, believed in my abilities and sacrificed time to assist me in completing my study.’ Their support is invaluable and has played a significant role in this professional accomplishment.