BACK OFF! is a remarkably useful and engaging survival guide that can help millions of targets, bystanders, and bullies that want to change their vile ways. I was especially impressed with the practical and powerful guidelines for battling against bullies without becoming one yourself. – Robert Sutton, Author of No Asshole Rule and Good Boss, Bad Boss Continue reading
For years advocates for the Healthy Workplace Bill have remained loyal to their legislative template and argued that options like Ontario’s Bill 168 aren’t adequate to address workplace bullying. They also prefer an approach that discourages large lawsuits. Looks like it’s time for legislators to take another look at alternative approaches — enforcement of Bill 168 may have fallen short — but large lawsuits equal change: Continue reading
The Office was expected to include a scene highlighting workplace bullying in this season’s season opener. Humor takes broad liberties but this topic didn’t need to enter mainstream television as a trivial joke — far too many of us have suffered the humiliating physical and financial ramifications. But, maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to judge. The deleted clip was dead on in depicting what far too many trainers and experts have fed to the media — the concept that bullying is “intentional” (check out the text on the blackboard). As the dialog and interactions of the cast members show, bullies are often clueless to their actions and the impact of their actions. Here’s the scene – judge for yourself: Continue reading
Most of us see the news through filters that let us see what we want to see. This is a time that Unions are under attack and we all know how underpaid and under appreciated our public school teachers are. So when I saw the troubling footage of picket lines that had closed down Chicago’s schools I naturally sided with the teachers. But, today’s New York Times editorial raises questions that demand a second look from all of us. Continue reading
Found this article this morning and thought I’d share it. The Huffington Post’s reports that the maker of the documentary they’ve all been talking about will finally be revealed. I have to admit I haven’t watched the show regularly in a long while but I’ll be checking out this one: Continue reading
When you’re hurt by someone you love and trust, you might become angry, sad or confused. If you dwell on hurtful events or situations, grudges filled with resentment, vengeance and hostility can take root. If you allow negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, you might find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. – The Mayo Clinic
Friday morning Jeffrey Johnson became both judge and jury when he determined the office grudge he reportedly shared with co-worker Steve Ercolino merited the death penalty. A punishment he carried out himself when he ambushed Ercolino on the street. We can point fingers of blame — but where do we point them? The employer? Analyzing how they handled the situation at the time is certainly beneficial in guiding other organizations. But, whatever mistakes they may or may not have made Johnson was downsized out of his job over a year before. Would anti-bullying legislation have prevented this? The office conflict had risen to the level of physical harassment early on and there was legal recourse in place. Grabbing someone by the throat and threatening them is already legislated. In fact both men had filed police reports. Raymond DiGiuseppe, chair in the Department of Psychology at St. John’s University, is quoted in the New York Observer: Continue reading
OUR BULLY PULPIT 