Browsing by Author "Lallukka, Pinja"

Aims. According to recent studies workplace bullying has become more and more common even in teacher communities. Workplace bullying can have significant consequences on a personal and society level. In some cases, workplace bullying causes long sick leaves and as well as workplace and career changes. One of the factors that can be an exposure to workplace bullying is age and position of a new employee. This has also been the case among teachers. Previous studies have shown that novice teachers have experienced some inappropriate behavior from their colleagues or principal. The aim of this study was to examine what kind of conceptions and experiences novice teachers have of workplace bullying and of their positions in teacher communities. The purpose of this study is to describe the representations of novice teacher’s reality. Methods. The research data was gathered by interviewing seven young teachers whom have worked as a teacher for a minimum of year and a maximum of three years after their graduation. This study was qualitative study. In the analysis of this study, a method of qualitative study of attitudes was applied. Results and conclusions. Novice teachers’ conceptions regarding the phenomenon of workplace bullying was in line with previous research and literature. Most of the novice teachers had encountered at least some inappropriate behavior in their workplaces. The forms of inappropriate behavior that novice teachers had experienced was for example sexual harassment, underestimation of skills and nasty commenting, criticism and slandering. Most of the negative experiences of novice teachers was explained by the factor of their contract of definite duration and as well as by some badly behaved colleagues. Although inappropriate and unequal treatment of novice teachers was considered a relatively common practice, all novice teachers who participated in this study also had positive experiences related to their work and colleagues.