This week the New York Times reported that a young Chinese factory worker jumped to his death from his dorm window. He worked 11 hours a day, 7 days a week for about $1 an hour. A demotion left him cleaning toilets. He was one of 10 workers from the same company who committed suicide and media attention has resulted in several large pay increases for employees. Continue reading
Assemblyman Englebright’s office called to say that the Labor Committee held A5414b. They do expect to reintroduce legislation next January and in the meantime will look at the language definitions within the bill. Continue reading
Assemblyman Englebright’s office says they expect to know by 1pm today whether or not the bill moves forward they will address concerns by business lobbyists that language in the bill needs to be more clearly redefined. There have been a number of groups who have sent opposition memos including this one:
There are a number of federal and state laws on the books today that already provide a sufficient avenue of redress. This legislation, however, does not address any inadequacies of these current protections but, rather, develops a “civility code” in the workplace which would now open every comment, perceived slight, performance review, disciplinary action and termination for review by the courts. [Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce]
EEOC data shows that the total number of charges of discrimination in the workplace based on “age,” “national origin” and “religion” have risen dramatically since 1997. And Judging from the rapid growth of “retaliation” claims, it looks like speaking out still carries great risks. Continue reading
Some time ago NY passed a Workplace Violence policy to protect public employees and part of that law includes worker-on-worker violence. But, Matt London of PEF, one of the main people crafting the policy, says: “the current law only covers bullying if there is a physical assault or the explicit threat of physical violence.” Instead they are “strongly encouraging agencies to have their programs include a broader definition of workplace violence, one which includes bullying.” The Healthy Workplace Bill recently passed in the NY State Senate and now waiting for a vote on the Assembly side is expected to fill that gap — and it protects private employees as well!
If it gets to the floor for a vote:Mike Schlicht, State Coordinator for NYHWA (New York Healthy Workplace Advocates) says they are “just two sponsors short of having one third of the Assembly signed onto their version of the bill.” But before that can happen, it still has to make it out of the Labor Committee where it’s been stuck since last year. The Wall Street Journal reports that the committee’s chair, Susan John, feels it may drive business out of the state. Continue reading
OUR BULLY PULPIT 