An international study examined bullying among 189 teachers and staff at colleges and universities in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Bullying involves deliberate harmful treatment, rather than simply being rude. Rates reached 68% at some institutions, showing how widespread the problem can be in higher education.
Respondents described mistreatment by coworkers and supervisors. The most common problems included workloads they could not manage, important information being kept from them, and deadlines they could not meet. Junior teachers and staff experienced more bullying from coworkers. Black employees, Indigenous employees, and other employees of color were targeted more frequently.
Thirty percent of respondents said students pressured them to award higher grades. Students used tactics such as threats to challenge grades, harmful complaints, negative online reviews, emotional pressure, and intimidation. Respondents reported student pressure more frequently than bullying by coworkers. Senior teachers were more likely than younger teachers to report grade bullying, while women and teachers from minority groups were particularly affected.
Such treatment can contribute to anxiety and depression, reduce job satisfaction, and lower productivity. It also damages relationships between teachers and students, weakening the quality of education. Beyond its effects on individual employees, bullying can cause lasting harm to an institution's reputation. Although students have less formal authority than teachers, pressure over grades shows that bullying can also move upward through a workplace's power structure.
