Forced To Become Entrepreneurs: Investigating the Impact of Workplace Bullying on the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Immigrant Workers in Turkey

Purpose: The issue of migrant workers has been frequently addressed in management and organiza- tion studies, as in many other fields since migration has become a global phenomenon. By referring to the push-pull theory of entrepreneurship, the current study aims to understand to what extent the bullying behavior that migrant workers are exposed to in the workplace encourages them to engage in entrepreneurship. The main assumption that constitutes the hypotheses is that negative workplace experiences push migrant workers to create alternatives against undesirable working conditions. Methodology: A quantitative research design was employed, involving standardized questionnaires to gather data from 231 migrant workers employed in Turkey’s textile sector. The hypotheses were tested using the AMOS statistical program. Findings: The findings support the bullying behavior that migrant workers are exposed to in their workplaces pushes them to become entrepreneurs (β= 0.36, p<.001). Further, the findings indicate that individual entrepreneurship orientation (IndEO) does not moderate the relationship mentioned (β = 0.03, p= .33). Originality: Unlike mainstream entrepreneurship literature, this study demonstrated that entrepre- neurship can be an ‘imperative’ stemming from unfavorable working conditions of migrant workers, rather than an ‘attractive’ phenomenon. Yet, the success and sustainability of such entrepreneurial activities is debatable. The study is expected to provide a clearer picture of migrant entrepreneurial initiatives and, therefore, guide policymakers in developing effective strategies to support economies.