Creating a Law to Stop Workplace Bullying
2019 could be a breakthrough year in the fight against workplace abuse.
Workplace abuse in the form of bullying is common, but rarely addressed. Consider these statistics from a 2017 national survey by Zogby International and the Workplace Bullying Institute:
- 38% of workers have experienced or witnessed workplace bullying
- 71% of employers who received complaints about workplace bullying either ignored the problem or made it worse
- 61% of workplace bullies are supervisors
This form of abuse often goes unreported because of the stigma, retaliation, and legal ramifications suffered by targets who suffer in silence. Many of the targets try to hold on to both their job and their sanity, making speaking out virtually impossible.
For years, there have been efforts to create a law that would prohibit bullying in the workplace. Surprisingly, getting a law on the books has been a considerable challenge. The lack of a law makes targeted employees particularly vulnerable. The current civil rights law is inadequate to protect even those in protected categories such as race, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. as described by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC). If a member of a protected class can’t prove the abuse is due to their membership in…
