The Hidden Cost of Mobbing on Teams

“Mobbing,” or workplace bullying, is a silent destroyer of employee wellbeing and organizational health. It goes beyond occasional conflict—it’s systematic harassment where one or more employees target an individual with repeated hostility, exclusion, or humiliation.

The impact is devastating: victims experience long-term mental health issues, while organizations suffer from lost productivity, absenteeism, and turnover

What Does Mobbing Look Like?

Mobbing can be subtle or overt:

Exclusion: Leaving a colleague out of meetings, projects, or workplace communication.

Defamation: Spreading rumors, gossip, or unjust criticism.

Undermining work: Deliberately withholding information or sabotaging performance.

Social isolation: Encouraging others to cut off interaction with the target.

📊 Research by the Workplace Bullying Institute shows that 19% of employees have directlyexperienced bullying at work, while another 19% have witnessed it.

The Mental Health Toll

Employees who are mobbed often develop:

Anxiety and depression.

Sleep disturbances.

PTSD-like symptoms from prolonged harassment.

A study in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health found that workplace bullying significantly increases the risk of severe depressive symptoms and even suicidal ideation.

The Organizational Cost

Mobbing doesn’t just harm individuals—it drains entire teams:

Absenteeism: Victims take more sick leave (up to 60% more than peers).

Turnover: High staff replacement costs when employees quit toxic environments.

Reduced productivity: Constant conflict undermines collaboration and trust.

Financial burden: Studies estimate a single workplace bully can cost companies up to €90,000 per year in lost productivity and turnover.

Why Employers Must Act

Ignoring mobbing signals that harassment is tolerated, damaging employer reputation and exposing the company to legal risks. Leaders must be proactive in:

Establishing clear anti-mobbing policies.

Training managers to spot early signs.

Creating safe reporting channels employees can trust.

How MentalSafe UG Helps

We support both employees and organizations with:

Confidential employee support for those affected by mobbing.

Awareness workshops to educate staff on prevention.

Independent mediation to resolve conflicts fairly and quickly.

Conclusion

Mobbing isn’t just “bad workplace culture”—it’s a threat to mental health and organizational success. By addressing it early, companies save money, protect employees, and build trust.

👉 If your workplace is struggling with bullying or mobbing, reach out to MentalSafe UG today. Together, we can break the cycle and create safer, stronger teams.