This paper discusses bullying in banks. It is based on a conceptual discussion of the topic and on an empirical study conducted with employees of a bank from the Northern region of Brazil. Based on a theoretical and conceptual delineation and on the work of renowned scholars, it presents a brief historical discussion of the phenomenon, definitions and characteristics that distinguish bullying from other recurring conflicts in the workplace. It also discusses the role of work organizations regarding bullying. The paper presents the results of a research carried out in bank agencies from July to September 2010, through individual semi-structured interviews conducted with thirty-seven volunteers who occupied different positions in these agencies. It was possible to identify that bullying at work, as a type of violence, is a phenomenon identified by bank workers in their work environment. In general, they associate bullying to management by pressure, which is focused on goals, production and competitiveness. The results encourage the reflection on the necessity to deal with bullying at work as social problem, in a collective perspective, not just as an individual question.
violence at work; bullying; workers' welfare; banks