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WORKPLACE HARASSMENT IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: LEGAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON PREVENTION AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Abstract
Workplace harassment in educational institutions represents an increasingly visible interdisciplinary concern affecting teachers’ well-being, professional ethics, and the quality of the learning environment. This paper examines workplace harassment (mobbing) in Romanian schools and universities through a combined legal and psychological perspective. The analysis addresses recent national and European regulatory developments, particularly Law no. 167/2020 and Government Decision no. 27/2025, which strengthen institutional responsibilities related to prevention, confidential reporting, anonymous complaints, and corrective measures. From a psychological standpoint, the study explores the roles of organisational culture, leadership behaviour, and perceived psychological safety in the emergence and escalation of abusive practices. Empirical data collected from 15 teaching professionals were analysed using a mixed-methods approach, revealing associations between exposure to harassment, decreased job satisfaction, and reduced professional resilience. The findings highlight gaps between legal provisions and institutional practice, limited managerial preparedness, and fragile reporting mechanisms, underscoring the need for coherent prevention strategies, ethical leadership, and integrated institutional policies to ensure safe, inclusive, and dignified educational workplaces.
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References11
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