Bullying in Higher Education Institutions: Are <scp>LGBQ</scp> + Employees Bearing the Burden?

ABSTRACT Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion among students and staff. Yet, they are one of the business sectors with the highest levels of workplace bullying. Bullying can severely impact employee well‐being, with sexual minority employees being particularly vulnerable. Building on the Minority Stress Theory , this study examined the role of sexual orientation in the relationships of workplace bullying and cyberbullying victimisation with psychological distress in a sample of 3032 employees across 20 HEIs in Ireland. Results indicated that more frequent workplace bullying and cyberbullying victimisation were associated with higher levels of psychological distress, with LGBQ+ respondents reporting greater distress despite enduring similar levels of victimisation as non‐LGBQ+ employees. A supportive organisational culture and psychologically safe teams were linked to lower levels of psychological distress for all employees. The study highlights the need for evidence‐based initiatives to address bullying and cyberbullying in HEIs.