Summary
Researchers from Linköping University in Sweden studied the impact of different office setups on workplace bullying among 3,300 employees. They found that employees working in traditional open-plan offices face a higher risk of bullying compared to those in private or small shared offices. The study suggests that the lack of private spaces and increased distractions in open-plan offices contribute to this problem.
Key Facts
- The study involved 3,300 randomly selected employees in different office setups.
- Employees in open-plan offices reported a higher risk of bullying.
- 21% of participants worked in traditional open-plan offices.
- Activity-based offices offer private spaces and didn’t show the same bullying risk.
- The study accounted for employees' personality traits and remote work support.
- Open-plan offices are common due to perceived benefits like collaboration and cost savings.
- Private spaces in offices help reduce workplace bullying.
- Researchers suggest managing office irritations and offering private spaces to mitigate bullying risk.
