Behind closed office doors: understanding workplace bullying in Malaysia

Workplace bullying is an increasingly recognized issue in Malaysia, affecting employees across diverse sectors and organizational hierarchies, with both psychological and professional consequences. Manifestations range from verbal abuse, ridicule, and social exclusion to harassment and physical aggression, with sector-specific dynamics observed in industries such as construction and healthcare (Awai et al., 2021; Hidzir et al., 2019). Cultural factors, including collectivist values and religious coping mechanisms like redha, further shape the perception and management of bullying in Malaysia, highlighting differences from Western contexts (Kwan et al., 2014; Mokhtar & Kamaluddin, 2021). Workplace bullying has been linked to elevated psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, reduced job performance, absenteeism, and turnover, with stress serving as a mediating factor (Arshad et al., 2025; Hassan et al., 2015; Jalali et al., 2020). Organizational climate, leadership support, and workplace policies play a critical role in mitigating bullying, yet Malaysia currently lacks specific legislation addressing the issue, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive interventions and structured support systems (Mokhtar & Kamaluddin, 2021; Samsudin et al., 2020; Zulkifli & Hamzah, 2024). Therefore, this study aims to explore the prevalence, forms, and consequences of workplace bullying in Malaysia. It will also examine the influence of cultural and organizational factors, with the goal of informing effective interventions and policy recommendations to improve employee well-being and organizational outcomes.