Perceived workplace mistreatment in higher education: characteristics and consequences

1. Perceived workplace mistreatment has been defined and documented using a grievance records review at a major university. Criteria and a framework are presented for reporting perceived workplace mistreatment and analyzing its characteristics and consequences. 2. Perceived workplace mistreatment has negative consequences for the perpetrators and recipients of mistreatment as well as for the institutions where it occurs. These include anxiety reactions, physical illnesses, lost time from work, lower morale, and reduced productivity. 3. Perceived workplace mistreatment should be acknowledged in university policies as part of efforts to prevent its occurrence. Addressing this phenomenon directly will improve work experiences and better promote the university's norms of collegiality and civility.