Diagnosis of Addressing Workplace Harassment in a Municipal Agency
Moral Harassment.Precariousness. Diagnosis.
Moral harassment is an abusive behavior that, through repetition or systematization, undermines the dignity or physical and psychological integrity of a person, threatening their employment or degrading the work environment. Common in the private sector, where competitiveness and profit dominate, this type of harassment also occurs in public administration, especially in hierarchical structures, partly due to the precariousness of labor relations. This study aimed to investigate how moral harassment is addressed in the Municipal Government of Parnamirim in Rio Grande do Norte (RN). The importance of this issue justifies the investigation, which sought to provide a diagnosis through document analysis and statistical data related to the incidence of harassment in the institution. It also included a survey of available institutional policies and programs, the impact of implemented actions, and the identification of challenges in preventing and resolving conflicts, as well as areas needing improvement from the perspective of employees. The investigation was structured as a case study, utilizing document analysis and field research, with open questionnaires and meetings with managers responsible for complaint reception and assessment as primary data collection tools. Between 2022 and 2023, Parnamirim/RN's Ombudsman’s Office recorded ten complaints of moral harassment, sometimes associated with other forms of workplace violence, made by employees. However, results indicate that the institution addresses the issue with insufficient attention, lacking multidisciplinary teams to support complainants and failing to promote awareness through informational and supportive products and events. This reveals a need for effective actions in prevention, intervention, and combating harassment. Considering that this type of violence is detrimental to both the victim and the organization and society as a whole, it is recommended that a Program for the Prevention, Combat, and Confrontation of Moral Harassment be established within the Parnamirim Municipal Government.