To call things by their right names : The example of bullying or victimization at work

Author: Tobias Aspegren Title: To call things by their right names – The example of bullying or victimization at work [Translated title] Supervisor: Ulf Drugge Assessor: Kerstin Arnesson Purpose: The purpose of this study is, by a discourse psychological approach, to investigate how our choice of concept of a bullying situation at work can correlate with managers’ way of handling the situation. The issues I have answered in order to fulfill my purpose was first how the managers defined the concepts in the studies title, and second how the mangers handled a situation of bullying at work. Method: I have used qualitative methods in my study in order to acquire my data. The method I used was semi-structured interviews. I analysed the results with a discourse psychological perspective by help of the theory’s concepts “interpretation repertoires” and “subjects positioning”. The participants of the study were four managers within the same organisation but in different manager positions, all with a work environment responsibility. Results: The results and analysis of my study shows that there is a lack of knowledge of the concept “victimization” by those who are obligated the responsibility of the work environment. This can result in a situation of victimization at work that does not follow the correct law-bound recommendations written in AFS 2015:4 – Organisatorisk och Social Arbetsmiljö. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that if the situation defines as either bullying or victimization, there will be follow-up meetings with the victim. But due to the lack of knowledge by the concept “victimization” there is an increased risk that the situation will not be handled in the way it should, in accordance with the AFS 2015:4, but will only be handled as temporary conflict. Keywords: Use of concepts, bullying, victimization, work environment Nyckelord: Begreppsanvändning, mobbning, kränkande särbehandling, arbetsmilj