Workplace Bullying and Survival of Small Businesses: Implications for National Development

Abstract

A number of studies have attempted to examine the workplace outcomes of workplace bullying using large organisations. However, given the structural, cultural and strategic differences between large and small organisations as well as the indispensable role of small businesses to the economy, more needs to be done in order to unravel the implications of workplace bullying within small businesses. This study is therefore aimed at examining the effect of workplace bullying on small business sustainability. The study is based on a survey of selected small businesses offering janitorial services in Lagos State. Employing stratified sampling technique to draw a sample of 400 respondents, the analysis of quantitative data using simple linear regression shows significant effect of workplace bullying on small business sustainability (B=0.606; R2= .357; p<0.05). The findings imply that small businesses should adopt human resource policies and practices to tackle workplace bullying. In view of the findings, the study recommended the sustained implementation of organisational justice as panacea for stopping workplace bullying and increasing small business sustainability.