Workplace mobbing is a serious issue affecting an increasing number of employees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It involves a form of psychological abuse, humiliation, or isolation of an employee, which often goes unreported due to fear of dismissal or a lack of understanding of legal protection mechanisms.
This article explains how to recognize mobbing, what legal definitions and workers’ rights exist in BiH, and what steps you can take if you are a victim or witness of mobbing.
Mobbing refers to continuous and systematic behavior by an employer, supervisors, or colleagues that undermines the dignity, health, or professional integrity of an employee. It can include:
- Insulting, humiliating, and mocking the employee,
- Isolation from the team or exclusion from communication,
- Unjustified criticism of work or abilities,
- Assigning unrealistic or degrading tasks,
- Unfounded threats of dismissal,
- Ignoring basic labor rights.
Unlike one-time conflicts, mobbing occurs over a prolonged period, often with the aim of forcing the person to leave their job voluntarily.
The Labor Law of the Federation of BiH and the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination of BiH explicitly prohibit any form of harassment and abuse at work. The employer is obliged to protect the employee from any form of mobbing and to take measures if it occurs.
Mobbing may serve as grounds for:
- Termination of the employment contract by the employee for just cause,
- Filing a lawsuit for damages,
- Reporting the case to the labor inspection authority,
- Internal reporting within the company, if there are internal rules or a designated person for labor relations.
Mobbing is often difficult to prove, but you can collect written emails, messages, reports, notes, witness statements (colleagues, third parties), medical documentation if mobbing caused stress, depression, or other health conditions, and evidence of demotion or downgrading of duties or position.
If you need legal advice and representation, you can contact us directly by phone (+387 62 423 413) or via email (info@partners.haracic.ba).
