May 12, 2010. Albany, NY: New York’s State Senate stepped up the national fight against bully bosses with the passage of S1823B. If enacted, the bill would establish a private cause of action for victims of abusive work environments. But, targets of this madness still won’t find relief until the NY Assembly passes their own version, A5414B, and the Governor signs off. Not an easy task. Continue reading
“Do you think employers sat around and said ‘women are so mistreated we must have policies to protect women?’ No! When we had a law they listened to the law only because of the fear of litigation.” – Gary Namie, co-founder of the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI)
This year the WBI’s Healthy Workplace Bill (HWB) is pending in several States and recently passed through the Illinois Senate. David Yamada, author of this anti-workplace bullying legislation, is encouraged but laments on his blog that the Illinois bill only addresses public employees.
But, perhaps those employees in the private sector praying for help should actually give a sigh of relief that there’s still time to modify the HWB. Continue reading
Governor Paterson's Veto Memo
[New York] If you’re sitting in a cubicle popping anti-depressants and hiding from a toxic boss your wait for legal protection just got longer.
On August 11th, Governor Paterson vetoed S1948, a bill to study hostile workplaces citing the $366,000 cost amendment tagged on by NY’s Dept of Labor.
I spoke with DOL Counsel, Maria Colavito before the veto and she said the DOL would have to hire staff to conduct studies. When I asked why they would need to conduct studies since this topic has already been researched pretty extensively for decades she voiced concern that the bill would replicate the 5 year NIOSH study currently underway.
Colavito gave me the contact info for Matt London of PEF who is deeply involved in creating policy for NY’s newly enacted Workplace Violence prevention law which protects employees in the public sector. Type 3 Workplace Violence — worker on worker — does include workplace bullying. Great news for public employees but no help at all for those in the private sector terrified of going to work each day and precisely the employees S1948 was expected to help.
London said that he would be happy to share data currently being gathered in NY agencies in the NIOSH study and expects it to be available in September. It would certainly seem that this would reduce the need for any new studies or data gathering as well as impact the cost of hiring additional employees by the DOL. And, it could also mean the DOL could meet their one year turn around deadline by concentrating on how this data reflects hostile workplaces right here in NY by holding public hearings and forums — not unlike the ones they held for the workplace violence bill.
Still not convinced? Compare the estimated $366,000 price tag to the monetary award in last year’s landmark “workplace bully” lawsuit in Indiana. The abused worker won a $325,000 judgment.
Research shows that each abusive boss creating a hostile workplace may cost $83,000. This does NOT factor in the high $$ impact on the victim’s health insurance OR the loss of income during today’s economic cri$i$. [Mattice]
>We are down to the wire. Yes the A2247b/S1948b bill to study hostile work environments passed BUT a veto from Governor Patterson will kill this study bill.
>Please tell the Governor that he needs to act now to stop the heavy damages on both victims’ health and the high cost to NY’s businesses.
>Research shows that each abusive boss creating a hostile workplace may cost $83,000. This does NOT factor in the high $$ impact on the victim’s health insurance OR the loss of income during today’s economic cri$i$. [Mattice]
>The estimated price for the entire one year study may be less than the price tag of just 4 of these bully bosses. The New York Healthy Workplace Advocates (NYHWA.org) estimates that 1.4 million New York Employees are subjected to Workplace Bullying in the state on a regular basis.
>Don’t forget to reference “NY Bill S1948 to Study Hostile Work Environments” in your email.
> “I personally thank everybody for their support and believe that we would not have made it this far without them! It does not matter where you live or whether you know somebody who has been a taget in the workplace, our combined voices can make the difference for everybody.” — Tracey <
NoJobIsWorthThis.com ©Beverly Peterson
Here’s NY State Assemblyman Mark Schroeder talking about the Study Bill which needs to pass the senate in order to become law.
I first met Assemblyman Mark Schroeder in June 2008. He was waiting for a House vote on his bill to study hostile work environments with the goal of stopping abusive bosses. We all kept an eye on the vote board that hangs high above the assembly hall as Schroeder slipped out to talk to our camera. The bill had already made it’s way through all of the committees with strong suport. When would it come up for vote? The clock kept ticking. Pat, my videographer, and I held out as long as we could but finally had to leave in order to get home in time for our daily work-a-days. Just as well since the bill never came up for a vote. Schroeder reintroduced the study bill again this year and it passed the House and moved on to the Senate.
OUR BULLY PULPIT 