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
The Wall Street Journal reported that the anti-workplace bullying legislation that slid through the NY Senate this month met with complaints that it’s too subjective to define. The same argument that was used against Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence . Continue reading
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
OUR BULLY PULPIT 