One in seven employees in Poland has experienced mobbing during their career, according to a new report from the Safe at Work Coalition. The study reveals that workplace harassment remains widespread, with managers more familiar with the term than employees. Women are more likely than men to report repeated experiences of mobbing, while men more often say they know how to respond. Alarmingly, 39% of employees are unaware of anti-mobbing procedures, and 10% would rather change jobs than fight for their rights.
Defining Mobbing: Awareness Grows Among Managers
The report “Workplace Safety in Poland 2025. Mobbing, Depression, Stress 2.0” highlights that mobbing is a multidimensional issue. While awareness of the term has grown, knowledge levels differ between groups. Just 21% of all respondents said they could not define mobbing, compared with 31% of employees (up from 16% in 2019). Meanwhile, 79% of managers and 69% of employees were familiar with the concept in 2025.
Around 25% of respondents understood that mobbing is characterized by persistence and duration — key factors in legal claims. Both groups see mobbing primarily as hierarchical behavior, where harassment flows “top-down” from managers.
“Awareness among managers has grown, but the decline in employee knowledge is worrying and may suggest training is directed mainly at management,” said Katarzyna Petrusiewicz, board member of the Safe at Work Coalition and Regional QESH Manager CEE at CWS Workwear. “While both groups define mobbing similarly — as persistent harassment or psychological abuse — employees emphasize emotional and health consequences, while managers focus on pressure and exploitation.”
Victims and Witnesses: Different Experiences for Men and Women
Among surveyed employees, 15% admitted to experiencing mobbing, with women reporting it more often than men (16% vs. 13%). Additionally, 19% said they had witnessed mobbing. Among managers, 14% reported personal experiences, while 37% said they had been informed of mobbing cases by employees — with 9% noting repeated reports.
Both managers and employees indicated they would first report mobbing to HR or a supervisor, or offer support directly to the victim.
“Although social awareness is growing, mobbing in Poland remains widespread,” noted Ewa Gawrysiak, board member of the Safe at Work Coalition and Regional Manager CEE at TenCate Protective Fabrics. “Women report mobbing more often, which may reflect greater openness in sharing experiences, social perceptions, or the forms mobbing takes. Education and a culture of respect remain crucial.”
Procedures Missing in Many Workplaces
Nearly four in ten employees (39%) did not know whether their workplace had anti-mobbing procedures, while only 29% said their company had measures to counter mobbing, discrimination, violence, or stress. Just 28% reported that managers discussed psychosocial risks with staff — down from 37% in 2019.
“This drop may suggest that while the topic is no longer taboo in public discourse, managers still lack tools and skills to address psychosocial risks directly,” said Elżbieta Rogowska, board member of the Safe at Work Coalition and Vice President at PW Krystian.
Managers painted a more optimistic picture: 52% confirmed anti-mobbing policies were in place, and 37% reported active measures against psychosocial threats. Many said they tried to foster positive workplace attitudes (50%), motivate employees (42%), and set clear goals and expectations (41%).
About the Study
The research was conducted by SW Research between June 26 and July 10, 2025. Telephone interviews (CATI) were held with 246 managers, while 1,019 employees across office and mixed physical/mental roles were surveyed online (CAWI). Results were compared with a 2019 survey.
The report was published under the patronage of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), with contributions from Poland’s National Labor Inspectorate, the Central Institute for Labor Protection, and Employers of Poland.
Source: ceo.com.pl
