CHAPTER 54 - Moral harassment in the workplace: An analysis of the impacts on work relationships

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

This study investigates the impacts of moral harassment in the workplace, examining consequences for employees or collaborators and for the organizations where these practices occur. It also analyzes legal effects derived from this illicit and inhumane conduct. A systematic literature review synthesizes evidence on physical, emotional, and work-related harms suffered by individuals exposed to moral harassment. The research highlights effects on productivity and social engagement with coworkers, supporting healthier workplaces and risk mitigation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Concept, manifestations, and consequences

Factors that enable moral harassment

Legal framework in Brazil

Method: systematic literature review

Search strategy and inclusion criteria

CHAPTER 54 Moral harassment in the workplace: An analysis of the impacts on work relationships [https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.006-054](https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.006-054) Edinalba Silva Bezerra Highest education: Specialist Current institution: Center for Technological Education of Teresina (CET) . Francisco Alves de Araújo Ltda. Faculty of Technology of Teresina-CET E-mail: [edinalba@hotmail.com](edinalba@hotmail.com) Valderly Pereira da Silva Highest education: Specialist Current institution: Center for Technological Education of Teresina (CET) . Francisco Alves de Araújo Ltda. Faculty of Technology of Teresina-CET E-mail: [edinalba@hotmail.com](edinalba@hotmail.com) Elson Jose do Rego Highest academic background: Specialist / Master's student Current institution: Center for Technological Education of Teresina (CET) . Francisco Alves de Araújo Ltda. Faculty of Technology of Teresina-CET E-mail: [elsonrego@gmail.com](elsonrego@gmail.com) Jane Karla de Oliveira Santos Highest education: Master of Laws Current institution: Center for Technological Education of Teresina (CET) . Francisco Alves de Araújo Ltda. Faculty of Technology of Teresina-CET[E-mail: professor21@cet.edu.br](E-mail: professor21@cet.edu.br) ABSTRACT This study investigates the impacts of moral harassment in the workplace, focusing on the impacts and consequences generated both for the employee or collaborator, and for the organization in which they are inserted, as well as the legal effects arising from this illicit and inhumane practice, through A systematic literature review examines the physical, emotional and work-related effects caused to individuals who suffer moral harassment in the workplace, as well as the impactson productivity and social engagement with coworkers. Understanding these impacts is essential to promoting a healthy work environment and mitigating the harmful effects of this conduct. Keywords: Moral Harassment, Desktop, Impacts, Employee, Employer. 1 INTRODUCTION Moral harassment in the workplace is a complex and harmful phenomenon that has received increasing attention in the field of labor law, due to the large amount of procedural demand. This is characterized by illicit and abusive conducts that occur repetitively, aiming to humiliate, embarrass and emotionally destabilize the individual, affecting not only the victim, but also the work environment. These abusive practices can occur through verbal, gestural or symbolic actions, or even by omission of the employer (horizontal moral harassment), compromising the worker's work capacity, and, not infrequently, leading them to suicide. There are different types and forms of manifestation of psychological harassment in the workplace. These manifestations can include insults, public humiliation, social isolation, assignment of humiliating tasks, discrimination, threats, impossible goals, vexatious jokes, among others. It is Harmony of Knowledge Exploring Interdisciplinary Synergies Moral harassment in the workplace: An analysis of the impacts on work relationships important to understand the peculiarities of each type of moral harassment and its specificities, among which it is worth highlighting: interpersonal and institutional moral harassment, which are divided into vertical, horizontal and mixed (horizontal and vertical) moral harassment, as well as their consequences in the legal-labor sphere. Factors such as excessive competition, lack of prevention policies, inadequate management, toxic organizational culture, among others, can favor the emergence or growth of these abusive practices, contributing directly and indirectly to the occurrence and growth of moral harassment in the workplace. Rodolfo Pamplona Filho, Claiz Maria Pereira Gunça dos Santos, in the book Organizational Moral Harassment, present the following proposal for the conceptualization of workplace moral harassment: Workplace moral

FAQs

What is moral harassment in the workplace, and what harms does it cause?

Moral harassment is described as repeated and prolonged psychological torture through abusive actions or omissions that aim to humiliate and emotionally destabilize the worker. It compromises dignity, physical and mental integrity, work capacity, and can extend to social and family life.

What forms can moral harassment take?

It can include verbal, gestural, or symbolic actions, as well as omissions by the employer. Manifestations mentioned include insults, public humiliation, social isolation, humiliating tasks, discrimination, threats, impossible goals, and vexatious jokes.

How was the study conducted to analyze these impacts?

The study used a systematic literature review with comprehensive searches across academic databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined, focusing on studies addressing physical, social, psychological, and emotional effects on workers and impacts on the work environment.

Sep 15, 2026

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