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be a bully buster
in your workplace |
Taking on Workplace Bullying in 2008
In 2005, WPEA members came to Olympia and testified in
support of House Bill 1968 which addressed workplace
bullying. Unfortunately, the “Healthy Workplace Bill” did
not move forward, but rather the legislative committee
decided that a “prevalence study” must be done.
Newly proposed House Bill 2142, picks up where HB 1968 left
off, going one step further by providing: “...legal redress
for employees who have been harmed psychologically,
physically or economically, by being deliberately subjected
to abusive work environments; and to provide legal
incentives for employers to prevent and respond to
mistreatment of employees at work.”
Because this is a serious issue that many of our members
face, WPEA will again be supporting this bill. HB 2142 not
only addresses verbal or physical conduct that is
threatening, intimidating or humiliating, but also
“gratuitous sabotage or undermining of a person’s work
performance” – something many of our members have dealt with
at work.
“The Bullying Bill” would also make any harassment which
results in the severe physical and/or mental anguish of an
employee which goes without redress by the company, punitive
up to $25,000.
According to Gary Namie, founder of the Work Place Bullying
Institute, their September 2007 Bullying Survey finds:
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37% of American workers – an estimated 54 million people
– have been bullied at work.
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Bullying is four times more prevalent than illegal forms
of “harassment.”
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In 62% of the cases, when made aware of bullying,
employers worsen the problem or simply do nothing,
despite losing an estimated 21-28 million workers
because of bullying.
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72% of bullies are bosses. 55% of those bullied are
rank-and-file workers.
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Women are targeted by bullies more frequently (in 57% of
cases), especially by other women (in 71% of cases).
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For 45% of bullied targets, stress affects their health.
33% suffer for more than one year.
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Only 3% of bullied targets file lawsuits. 40% never
complain.
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Targets have to stop the vast majority of bullying (77%)
by losing their jobs despite being the ones harmed.
“After two long conversations with Namie, I can tell you
that I understand clearly why trying to get this type of
legislation passed through our halls of government, is both
difficult but also timely and important,” said Sean
Gallegos, WPEA’s lead lobbyist on this issue.
Under current law, unless a person is bullied or harassed
based on race, color, sex, nation of origin, or age, then
they are not likely to have legal recourse to redress such
treatment.
If you would like more information on how
to be a "bully buster", go to
http://bullybusters.org/advocacy/legisadv.html
or go to
www.bullyinginstitute.org.
The Bully
At Work
What You Can Do to Stop the
Hurt and Reclaim Your
Dignity On the Job
by Gary Namie, PhD and
Ruth Namie, PhD
Updated in 2003
(original
edition, 2000)
288 pages, softcover, 7 x 9 in.
ISBN 1570715343
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
List price US $14.95
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Diversity Matters