Workplace Bullying and Intention to Leave among Academic Employees in a South African University

Abstract

Given the severe effects of workplace bullying in the workplace, it has emerged as a serious problem on a global scale, and is drawing increasing interest from researchers. This paper's primary goal is to investigate the association between workplace bullying and intention to leave among academics at a South African university. Using a convenience sampling method, a sample size of 180 respondents (n=180) was selected from the 335 (N=335) target population. Data was gathered using a standardised questionnaire, and SPSS version 28 was utilised to analyse the results. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify critical dimensions of workplace bullying. The study employed Spearman's rho correlation analysis and regression analysis to investigate the association between workplace bullying and intention to leave. The five elements of workplace bullying and the intention to leave had strong positive associations. The regression analysis results showed a predictive association between workplace bullying and intention to leave. In light of these findings, the study recommended that universities explore preventative and intervention strategies to manage workplace bullying.