INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF WORKPLACE MISTREATMENT AMONG WORKERS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ( A CASE STUDY OF BABCAM INDUSTRIES LTD)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The most prominent and consequential form of interpersonal violence is workplace mistreatment, wherein individuals, particularly supervisors and employees, regularly encounter unpleasant behavior (Nielsen et al., 2020; Dhanani & LaPalme, 2019). This concept of workplace mistreatment has been a topic of extensive debate globally for many years (Nielsen & Einarsen, 2023). Studies suggest that workplace mistreatment occurs with a prevalence rate estimated between 11-18% across various industries, with nearly 80% of cases involving supervisory harassment (Nielsen et al., 2020). The ramifications of workplace mistreatment are extensive, including a strong desire to quit, absenteeism, decreased organizational citizenship, poor work performance, job dissatisfaction, disengagement from the labor market, reduced organizational commitment, as well as mental health issues such as depression, trauma, and psychosomatic symptoms (Dhanani & LaPalme, 2019; Hodgins et al., 2018; Schilpzand et al., 2019). Furthermore, research indicates a range of negative consequences associated with mistreatment, such as deteriorated health, diminished job satisfaction and commitment, decreased creativity and performance, and increased withdrawal behaviors (Dhanani & LaPalme, 2019; Hodgins et al., 2018 Schilpzand et al., 209). Similalry, longitudinal studies suggest that witnessed mistreatment also has detrimental effects, although these effects tend to diminish over time (Gullander et al., 2018). However, there are significant gaps in research regarding the link between the consequences of workplace mistreatment. Workplace mistreatment presents a substantial challenge in the construction industry, with effects on workers' mental health and their ability to deliver effective care (Rutherford & Rissel, 2020). According to  Dietz et al., (2023), external factors, such as community crime rates, may influence the prevalence of mistreatment, suggesting the need for organization-wide interventions. Beyond that, changes in work conditions, such as open office layouts, may inadvertently contribute to increased workplace mistreatment (Haynes et al., 2019). However, structural characteristics, such as precarious employment arrangements, also play a role, as employees with such arrangements may be perceived as convenient targets (Baron & Neuman, 2019; Knorz & Zapf, 2018). Nonetheless, this relationship is not always consistent across studies (Kivimäki et al., 2020). Therefore, a survey will be conducted to investigate the causes and consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry (a case study of BABCAM Industries Ltd).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Workplace mistreatment manifest in several ways. The types of negative behaviour in the workplace  vary in severity and clarity. It ranges from mild and unclear, such as incivility, to persistent and regular, such as bullying. However, negative behaviour can also be tied to power dynamics, such as abusive supervision, and can even escalate to physical assault. Aside from incurring substantial personal expenses, workplace mistreatment also imposes financial burdens on the organization. In addition, workplace mistreatment varies in terms of its intensity, ambiguity, frequency, and duration. However, a shared characteristic among all forms of mistreatment is their substantial adverse effects on the individuals targeted, as well as on those who witness it, and the overall functioning of organizations. It is so unsurprising that there has been an increase in study on workplace mistreatment, as seen by the publication of over 100 reviews and meta-analyses on this subject. The profusion of published studies, along with the use of several words to depict apparently comparable occurrences, presents a formidable task in keeping up with the progress in this domain and effectively pinpointing pertinent deficiencies. Identifying the precise psychological profile of individuals who are more prone to mistreatment (i.e., perpetrators) is an unattainable task. Furthermore, researchers have discovered many traits that partially predispose individuals to exhibit violent behaviour, and they have also unravelled specific personality types linked to the act of mistreating others. The research further suggests that individuals who exhibit disagreeable, neurotic, angry, and anxious behaviours, as well as those who possess dark personality traits like Machiavellianism (Pilch & Turska, 2018), narcissism, or psychopathy, are more prone to mistreating others. While there is a connection between variances in an individual's ability to regulate themselves and their tendency to mistreat others. Specifically, persons with weaker self-control are more likely to engage in negative behaviours towards others when triggered by an incident. This has been seen in studies conducted by Lian et al. (2017) and Shadmanfaat et al. (2018). Prior research in developmental psychology has indicated that specific hormones, particularly testosterone, have a significant role in the increased occurrence of violent behaviours (Brennan et al., 2023). Nevertheless, recent empirical research (Eisenegger et al., 2020) has contradicted this assertion by demonstrating that testosterone levels enhance behaviours that align with societal expectations. Depending on the circumstances, testosterone can facilitate a wide range of interpersonal behaviours, spanning from prosocial to violent. Additionally, researchers have proposed that certain individuals are more susceptible to abuse because they are perceived as easy targets, possess unpleasant personality features, or engage in harmful behaviours (Aquino & Bradfield, 2020). For instance, specific personality traits such as disagreeableness, low conscientiousness, neuroticism, and negative affectivity, as well as mental health issues, inadequate conflict management style, and subpar performance, are all associated with experiencing mistreatment. This has been demonstrated in studies conducted by Nielsen and Einarsen (2022), Trudel and Reio (2019), Bowling et al (2018), Henle and Gross (2019). Thus, this study seeks to investigate the causes and consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry (a case study of BABCAM Industries Ltd).

1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the causes and consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry (a case study of BABCAM Industries Ltd). Specifically, the study will;

Investigate the root causes of mistreatment among workers in construction industry

Investigate the consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry

Assess the influence of workplace mistreatment on employees’ job satisfaction in BABCAM Industries Ltd

Proffer effective strategies for preventing and managing workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry.

1.4 Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What are the underlying factors contributing to mistreatment among workers in the construction industry?

What are the consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry?

How does workplace mistreatment affect job satisfaction among employees at BABCAM Industries Ltd?

What are some effective strategies for preventing and managing workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry?

1.5Research Hypotheses

H0: There is no significant relationship between workplace mistreatment and its causes and consequences among workers in the construction industry at BABCAM Industries Ltd.

Ha: There is a significant relationship between workplace mistreatment and its causes and consequences among workers in the construction industry at BABCAM Industries Ltd.

1.6  Significance of the Study

This research will contribute insights to the causes and consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry, specifically focusing on the employees of BABCAM Industries Ltd.  Also, the study's findings will increase awareness of mistreatment among the organization's staff and management. In addition, the research will help identify and provide better ways to strategically mitigate the mistreatment in the workplace and enhance employees’ performance. Furthermore, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regards to the causes and consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry (a case study of BABCAM Industries Ltd).

1.7 Scope of the study

The scope of this study is boarded on the causes and consequences of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry (a case study of BABCAM Industries Ltd). Empirically, this study will investigate the root causes of workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry, investigate the consequences of workplace incivility on employees well-being in Cameroon, assess the influence of workplace mistreatment on employees’ job satisfaction in BABCAM Industries Ltd and proffer effective strategies for preventing and managing workplace mistreatment among workers in construction industry.graphically, the study will be delimited to employees of BABCAM Industries Ltd.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. 

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Workplace mistreatment: any form of unjust or oppressive conduct targeted at an employee. This includes behaviours such as verbal mistreatment, coercion, bias, or deliberate obstruction, which frequently result in an unfriendly or poisonous work atmosphere (Pinkos, 2018).

Incivility: disrespectful behavior that violates social norms of respect, courtesy, and consideration for others

Bullying: involves repeated aggressive behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or exert control over another person, especially when there is an imbalance of power.

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