Workplace bullying prevalent in public sector according to new PASYDY study

A comprehensive study conducted by the civil service union PASYDY reveals that 62% of employees in the Cypriot public and broader public sector have experienced humiliating, offensive, or bullying behavior within the last five years. The research, which surveyed 5,148 workers, indicates that 38% of those affected faced such incidents frequently or even daily. Results show a gendered dimension, with 64.8% of women reporting bullying compared to 56.1% of men, with women more frequently citing devaluation and derogatory comments, while men reported unjust disciplinary threats.

Most victims identified their superiors as the perpetrators, though a significant portion reported harassment from peers. Despite the prevalence of the issue, only 10% of respondents consider existing institutional mechanisms effective, while 49% believe such mechanisms do not exist at all. This lack of trust, combined with a persistent fear of retaliation, results in a very low rate of official incident reporting.

During the presentation of the findings on November 11, 2026, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Mousiouttas emphasized that workplace bullying leaves lasting psychological scars. The union is now advocating for urgent institutional interventions and more robust, effective reporting mechanisms to safeguard employee dignity and professional well-being.