ABSTRACT
WORKPLACE BULLYING Conflict within the workplace is often thought to be an inevitable consequence of the ‘strange brew’ of people and environments which, together, provide the social milieu of the workplace. This understanding often becomes a reassurance that although conflict is not pleasant, at least it is not unnatural and is not something that need be taken too seriously. Handy (1993) reminds us, however, that to ignore conflict simply because its causes may seem to be trivial is to allow it to take hold within the organisation and give it the opportunity to perpetuate itself. Conflict may be natural, or at least it may be an inevitable ingredient of the human condition, but so is ill-health, and society does a great deal to prevent or alleviate that amongst its members. So too should organisations seek to alleviate and prevent conflict.
