According to official data from Poland’s National Labour Inspectorate (PIP), the issue of workplace bullying—referred to as mobbing—at universities appears to be relatively minor when compared to the broader labor market. However, surveys paint a different picture, revealing that 63.5% of university staff and 55% of students have encountered mobbing. In response to this troubling trend, the University of Warsaw and the University of Silesia have launched a joint initiative to identify, document, and promote effective anti-mobbing practices at Polish universities.
Discrepancy Between Reports and Reality
“Mobbing has been regulated by the Labour Code for over two decades. While awareness and prevention efforts are increasing, the problem persists,” says Prof. Jacek Męcina, Head of the Department of Labour System and Labour Market at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw. “Although officially it seems marginal, its severity makes fighting all forms of mobbing a priority.”
A survey conducted by UCE RESEARCH and the ePsycholodzy.pl platform found that over 40% of employees in Poland have experienced bullying behavior at work. Young adults aged 18–24 were most frequently affected (53.6%), followed by individuals earning between PLN 5,000 and PLN 9,000 net per month (approx. 50%). Those earning between PLN 1,000 and PLN 3,000 reported it least often.
“Mobbing is a personal tragedy for each victim and a serious threat to any organization,” adds Prof. Męcina. “It leads to communication breakdowns, toxic work environments, internal conflicts, and—especially in the private sector—financial losses and decreased competitiveness.”
Most Common Forms of Mobbing
The five most frequently reported issues in professional settings include: being assigned senseless tasks, becoming the subject of gossip, receiving contradictory instructions, facing envious or hostile comments, and being yelled at or insulted. Despite the prevalence of such behaviors, official complaints filed with the National Labour Inspectorate remain low.
Marcin Stanecki, Chief Labour Inspector, confirms this trend: “In 2024, we received around 2,000 complaints related to mobbing and around 800 concerning discrimination. Often people confuse the two, and many don’t distinguish between them. In the case of universities, such complaints are rare and currently not a top priority—most complaints come from private entities.”
Interestingly, the total number of complaints received by the Inspectorate is twice that of formal court cases. In 2022, the Ministry of Justice recorded 1,560 legal cases concerning mobbing, discrimination, and sexual harassment. Meanwhile, the Labour Inspectorate provided around 4,000 consultations—many of them highly complex and time-consuming.
A Systemic Issue in Academia
Although universities appear to be low on the list of reported institutions, internal studies tell a different story. Data from Science Watch Polska (2022) showed that 63.5% of academic staff experienced mobbing, typically in the form of gossip, undermining decisions, and public criticism of one’s work. A 2021 report by the Independent Students’ Association revealed that over half of surveyed students had been victims or knew someone who had suffered abuse by academic staff. However, only 20% reported the incidents—citing fear of consequences or skepticism toward the effectiveness of such actions, indicating a significant lack of trust in university authorities.
Students most commonly reported fear tactics, humiliation, and inappropriate comments as the top three mobbing behaviors they had encountered.
“Academia is particularly vulnerable to these dynamics due to hierarchical structures and dependency,” says Dr. Błażej Mądrzycki from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Silesia. “I receive reports of suspected mobbing from universities across Poland at least once a month. One particularly disturbing case involved an academic staff member with Asperger’s syndrome being told she shouldn’t work at the university—without any valid justification. It felt like a throwback to the Middle Ages.”
Global and Local Responses
The issue is gaining attention within academic circles. As early as 2019, the medical journal The Lancet proposed creating a global commission on academic ethics to review bullying claims in a fair and transparent manner.
Polish universities are also taking action. The University of Warsaw and the University of Silesia have launched a project titled “University – A Space Free of Mobbing and Discrimination.” The initiative aims to promote anti-bullying procedures and build a framework for a safer academic environment. The project’s inaugural conference is scheduled for June 27 in Warsaw and is led by Prof. Męcina.
“The project will promote anti-mobbing policies in Polish academia. We plan regional conferences, new research, and a competition for best anti-mobbing practices,” Prof. Męcina explains. “Universities entering the competition will first undergo a self-assessment using a survey we developed. Top performers will be audited, and their practices documented as a guidebook for others looking to implement effective anti-mobbing measures.”
Changing Culture, Not Just Policies
“We need to stop talking and start acting,” says Dr. Mądrzycki, who serves as secretary of the project. “Policies alone won’t solve problems rooted in human behavior. Mobbing, discrimination, and inequality must be tackled by improving social relations. When our society tolerates aggression over something as trivial as a parking spot, it’s clear this is a broader issue. Universities must lead by example—recognizing the problem and taking meaningful steps to address it.”
The “University – A Space Free of Mobbing and Discrimination” initiative is being implemented by the University of Warsaw, funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and supported by the Chief Labour Inspector and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.
