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!
“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
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
When I was suffering the tyrannical grip of a vicious boss I found that music helped me tremendously and every day I downloaded a song or album to help get me through. So a new permanent feature of this blog’s sidebar will feature music videos that are some of my favorites. They may not all be your taste, but then again they often surprised me (like when I suddenly couldn’t get enough Frank Sinatra.) For me they were best played LOUD over and over and over again. And, I got so I NEVER opened my email software without first starting the theme song for JAWS. Continue reading
Midnight is just a few hours away. It will signal the start of a brand spanking new decade. Yeah! That time can’t tick by quickly enough because this particular celebration is really precious to me. The list of things I am grateful to leave behind include financial losses, family illnesses, broken arms, surgery and being evacuated from my home barely two blocks North of the World Trade Center as I stood by helplessly watching as thousands died. It took years to recover but I did. And, shortly after I finally breathed a guilty survivor’s sigh of relief, I suddenly found myself working for a vicious and abusive boss who brought me to my knees. Once again I’ve moved on and rebuilt my life and – although I bristle when other people say this – I have indeed made lemonade out of lemons by making this site that includes the videos already posted, those in progress, and meeting all of you. Continue reading
OUR BULLY PULPIT 