Strategies of Migrant Textile Workers in Turkey to Cope with Workplace Bullying: A Qualitative Study

Despite being discussed by the scientific community and practitioners for decades, bullying remains a severe problem in modern work life. The problem will likely continue to grow exponentially with the reality of migration. In fact, immigrant workers have been reported to be in the highest risk group in terms of being exposed to workplace bullying. The aim of the study is to understand the extent to which migrant textile workers in Turkey are exposed to bullying behaviors and the strategies they develop to cope with these unintended behaviors. The data of the research, which has a qualitative design, was collected through in-depth interviews (N=24) and analyzed thematically. The study demonstrates that migrant workers utilize a range of strategies to handle workplace bullying, which can be classified into three main categories: (1) individual strategies aimed at enhancing job-related competencies, (2) preventive measures adopted to avoid the emergence of bullying, and (3) eliminative interventions intended to stop existing bullying incidents. Individual strategies primarily involve building resilience by improving job-related skills. Preventive measures include forming supportive relationships with native colleagues and deliberately choosing safer and more inclusive work environments. Finally, eliminative strategies include mental support seeking, quiet quitting, and alternative employment options. These strategies underscore the multifaceted nature of their coping mechanisms.