An Integrative Review of Causes and Effects of Workplace Bullying: Research and Policy Implications for Botswana.

Workplace bullying (WB) is one of the most common challenges facing organizations, government institutions and departments alike, often carrying psycho-social, economic and health implications. Currently, little research on WB has been conducted in Botswana, making it difficult to attach quantitative measurements. It is becoming increasingly important for academics, researchers, organizational psychologists, and Human Resource (HR) practitioners to invest more time and resources in the subject. Using an Integrative Literature Review (ILR) approach, this paper explores available literature on the causes and effects of WB and implications for research, legal statutes, and policy in Botswana. The Google search engine was used to identify and retrieve research papers written on WB. Fifty- nine (59) online papers were identified, with 26 found to be relevant to the research topic while 33 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Causes and effects of WB were synthesized and analyzed according to emerging themes. Work-related stress, personality traits, toxic organizational cultures and unhealthy competition are some of the causes of WB. Workplace bullying is predominantly covert, making it difficult to recognize and address. Victims of WB often find it difficult to speak out due to fear of further victimization. Effects of WB manifest in the form of anxiety, depression, fear, and, in extreme scenarios, suicide. The introduction of the Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2025 marked a significant shift in identifying and responding to WB. However, the Act should be effected to the extent that WB can be robustly addressed, and hold individual organizations, government ministries and departments accountable.