Workplace Bullying & Sexual Harassment: Impact on First Responders: A Qualitative Study

The phenomenon of workplace bullying and sexual harassment amongst first responders is prevalent and damaging. This study demonstrates the effects workplace bullying, and sexual harassment has across Emergency Service Organizations [ESOs] and the impact on targets as being severe and pervasive, with negative consequences for the targets and the organizations in which they work. Core themes emerged to support that the phenomenon has severe implications for the psychological health of targets, organizational culture implications and public safety outcomes that are serious, pervasive and have negative consequences for individuals, the organization and the public. Data in this study show that factors that influence workplace bullying and sexual harassment include organizational culture (acceptable) and a “rite of passage” which normalizes behavior and creates a toxic culture ripe for incivility within ESO's. The impact on targets includes severe psychological harm and the depletion of psychological resource that has long-lasting negative mental health implications as well as public safety implications.