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Project description
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Purpose
The purpose of the project (hereinafter: the "Intervene project") is to develop, test and evaluate an adjusted version of the established research-based tool "Intervene – good workplace relationships without bullying", which consists of 3 Steps.
The tool "Intervene " is based on state-of-the-art research into antecedents and dynamics involved in the development of bullying, including the role of bystanders. The intervention enables workplace- and team-based dialogues on risk situations and the development and implementation of action plans.
Learn more on the website "Arbejdsmiljø" (text is in English): https://www.godtarbejdsmiljo.dk/trivsel/kraenkende-handlinger/grib-ind-overfor-mobning-og-kraenkende-handlinger/prevent-harassment-start-the-dialogue-on-your-workplace
During the project, the companies implement Intervene themselves and receive sparring from consultants with the purpose of strengthening the internal ethical infrastructure and psychological safety.
Background
Bullying is a strong risk factor for mental and somatic health problems. The affected companies may face problems such as reduced productivity, increased sickness absence and increased turnover. Prevention is therefore essential. Despite an increased focus on negative acts in Danish companies, and an increased demand for preventative tools on the part of managers and employee representatives, there is limited research-based knowledge on the prevention and management of bullying.
Accordingly, there is a great need for research-based tools that workplaces can use in their efforts to prevent negative acts and bullying. Existing research indicates that workplaces may benefit from using tools that focus on activating bystanders (e.g. colleagues and managers) to intervene constructively in situations with bullying and other types of negative acts.
Methods
Design: Intervention study with effect and process evaluation. The effect evaluation is based on measurements before and after the intervention.
Participants: Six small or medium-sized private organizations.
Intervention: “Intervene”
The intervention
Intervene is a dialogue-based intervention that aims: 1) to activate bystanders to constructively intervene when witnessing negative acts or bullying, and 2) to identify, prioritize, prevent and/or manage two risk situations for bullying in particular: conflicts and violations of unwritten rules. The design of the tool enables companies to implement it themselves without the assistance of for example consultants. It consists of 3 steps:
Step 1 consists of group and plenary dialogues on bystander behavior in two films and contributes to raising awareness of the importance of bystander behavior. Step 2 is a dialogue meeting during which employees identify and discuss risk situations for bullying in their team or workplace. Based on these discussions action plans targeting risk situations are drafted and implemented in Step 3.
Project phases
In the project’s development phase (Phase 1), a training element integrated into Intervene’s Step 1 is developed and tested at two private workplaces.
In Phase 2, the main project, the Intervention is tested and evaluated in its entirety in four private SMEs. It is assumed that Intervene will lead to a number of positive changes: 1) that the employees become more aware of the importance of taking constructive action against bullying and other negative acts, 2) that they become more motivated to help colleagues who are subjected to negative acts or bullying, 3) that they will be more comfortable intervening, and 4) that they feel more competent in relation to intervening when they witness negative acts at their workplace.
Data collection
The project includes baseline measurements (interviews and questionnaire), evaluations of workshops (questionnaire, oral evaluations, and observations), 3-month follow-up (interviews and questionnaire) and 12-month follow-up (questionnaire and interviews). Regular project meetings and a final evaluation meeting also contribute with data on the project's progress and the effects of the interventions.
Perspectives
The project will result in a validated research-based tool that Danish companies may use in their efforts to prevent bullying. The companies thus get access to an updated and better validated version of the bystander intervention “Intervene”, which they can implement themselves with support from the manual that will be developed in the project.
In addition, the project provides increased knowledge about workplace-based prevention of mental health problems caused by negative acts and bullying. Overall, the project will contribute with new knowledge which may strengthen the prevention of negative acts and bullying at Danish workplaces. The project’s results will thus contribute to the prevention of mental health problems related to working life.
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