Abstract
Bullying is a prevalent workplace problem that has received relatively little research attention addressing managerial intervention. We developed a framework and propositions based on the bullying literature and expectancy violations theory (EVT) for understanding managerial interventions aimed at ameliorating workplace bullying. The target’s emotional responses to bullying, target’s profile type, bully’s profile type, and manager’s perceptions of the bully’s organizational value are considered as predictors of violations of the manager’s expectations and intensity of managerial intervention. EVT provides a framework for understanding the components of workplace bullying relationships. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Author Note
This research is based on the first author’s master’s thesis. The second author served as thesis advisor and the third author served as a thesis committee member.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Kylie Julius
Kylie Julius is a lecturer of Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Joan R. Rentsch
Joan R. Rentsch is a professor of Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Quinten S. Bernhold
Quinten S. Bernhold is an assistant professor of Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.