The Toxic Culture of Health

Workplace bullying is often seen as an individual problem where the target just needs to “toughen up”. Workplace bullying continues because organisations allow it, encourage it, or at the very least fail to address it. In this chapter, the champions describe a toxic culture where bullying is tolerated and often rewarded. Appointing people as leaders and managers without the necessary skills and training was seen as a major contributing factor. Health professionals were often motivated by competition and self-interest. Some champions believed the culture could not be changed, while others believed an organisational approach where bullying was addressed was possible. The need for independent reporting systems was considered essential.