Tag Archives: harassment

NY Sponsor of Healthy Workplace Bill says decision is less than an hour away

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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]

Growing charges of work discrimination: “Age”, “Religion”, and “National Origin”

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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 →

NY’s Workplace Bullying Legislation Could Fill Gap In Current Workplace Violence Policy

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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!

Take the $25K Cap Out of “Workplace Bullying” Legislation!

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Is the Healthy Workplace Bill too business friendly?

“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 →

Canada Takes On Workplace Bullies!

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Special Guest Blog from Workplace Bullying expert and Legislative Advocate Dr. Lisa M.S. Barrow, author of “In Darkness Light Dawns: Exposing Workplace Bullying“ and “Hope For a Healthy Workplace“.  She was deeply involved in Canada’s recent passage of anti-bullying legislation.  Continue reading →

Public Hearing! Speak Out & Act Now To Help Stop Abusive Bosses

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Connecticut Public Hearing

“Bullying in the workplace makes it miserable for people to go to work.  It causes stress-related physical problems.  It causes emotional distress that could be disastrous.  Bullying is everywhere and we need to stop it.”

– Senator Edith Prague, Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees

State Senator Edith Prague has re-introduced legislation  [House Bill 5285] that would require the state to document Workplace Violence & Bullying experienced by public employees.  The Labor and Public Employees Committee will hold a public hearing on this bill on Tuesday, March 2nd at 2PM in Hearing Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.  Continue reading →