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Is Workplace Bullying Illegal?

By Nancy Owen, PHR, Senior HR Consultant, East Coast Risk Management

workplace bullyingWorkplace bullying is on the rise. While statistics vary, some studies reveal that nearly half of all workers in America have been affected by workplace bullying, either as a target or as a witness to abusive behavior against one of their co-workers.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines bullying as “abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger or more powerful,” In the workplace, that could include verbal or written teasing, intimidation, or threats to cause harm.  It might take the form of public reprimand, belittling or regularly excluding someone from meetings or social gatherings of their peers.

To date, neither federal nor state laws prohibit bullying in the workplace. However, several states are considering taking steps to a healthier workplace or even implementing anti-bullying legislation and for good reason. In fact, laws have recently been enacted by legislatures in Utah, Tennessee, and California and an employment policy has also been enacted by a county in Georgia. But, even in states with no anti-bullying laws, some situations of bullying may still be illegal.

Bullying violates federal and state laws prohibiting harassment in the workplace when the basis for it is tied to a protected status, such as color, national origin, race, religion, age, sex, and disability. If bullying targets a person based on their status in a protected class, that bullying may qualify as illegal harassment. In that case, the employee being harassed may be able to file a law suit based on the hostile work environment that has been created. In addition, even if the behavior isn’t repeated, if the behavior is severe enough that a reasonable person would find it to be offensive, hostile, or abusive then it could be considered unlawful harassment.

Already, twenty-five states have proposed variations of the Healthy Workplace Bill, crafted by Suffolk University law professor David Yamada. This measure prohibits workplace harassment without the necessity of demonstrating that such harassment is based on a protected class.

California Governor Brown signed A.B. 2053 into law on September 9, 2014, mandating that covered California employers add anti-bullying content into their current sexual harassment training curriculum starting January 1, 2015. Employers with 50 or more employees must provide at least 2 hours of training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees once every 2 years. This training must include “prevention of abusive conduct” as a component.

Abusive conduct is defined as any malicious conduct that a reasonable person would find hostile, offensive, and unrelated to the employer’s legitimate business interests. Unlawful bullying in the workplace can take many forms, including:

  • Inappropriate jokes, derogatory comments, or innuendo;
  • Physical bullying, like unwanted touching or hitting;
  • Verbal threats or implied threats;
  • Visual bullying, like posters or signs;
  • Aggressive or repeated requests for sexual favors; and
  • Showing favoritism based on a protected characteristic.

In other cases, if the bully threatens to physically harm an employee, then that employee might be able to sue for assault. Or if the bully follows the employee home after work or to work, then that may be reason for the bully to be guilty of stalking.

Did you see these headlines?

So, what can you do?

Educate your leaders. Make sure they know to:

  • Hold confirmed bullies accountable. Do not tell employees to work it out between themselves. Get involved and address it head on. Let your employees know what conduct is not acceptable in the workplace and when employees do not follow the policy hold them accountable.
  • Investigate any and all complaints and checkup on employees. Remind them that employees who are scared by bullies are not going to give you information.
  • Look for changes in your employees. Most times employees with withdraw, call in sick or be non-productive.
  • Have an open door policy for all employees. Having a safe place for employees is key. Make sure the area is private and the employees feel safe coming to you.
  • Believe the accuser until proven otherwise.
  • Choose other appropriate consequences. Promise coworkers freedom from bullying in the future.
  • Intervene if the bully is a leader. Interrupt the bullying and pull the leader away so as not to address it in front of anyone else. Address it behind closed doors so you do not humiliate anyone. Remind the leader of the policy.
  • Be a role model. Good managers do not use tactics of intimidation, domination or humiliation.  Consider some type of formal training for your leaders so they are equipped to follow the policy themselves and hold their employees to the same standards.
  • Become the anti-bullying advocate within the management team.

Have a strong policy against bullying:

  • According a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, 56 percent of companies have some form of anti-bullying policy that is commonly mentioned in an employee handbook or code of conduct. Responses to workplace bullying include firing, suspension or anger-management training.
  • An anti-bullying policy, which might be added to a larger anti-harassment policy, should define bullying, provide examples of such behavior and communicate a reporting procedure.

 

If you are an employer that has questions on any issue relating to human resources, safety, or workers’ compensation, contact East Coast Risk Management by calling 724-864-8745 or emailing us at hrhelpline@eastcoastrm.com.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Use of and access to this Web site do not create an attorney-client relationship between East Coast Risk Management or our employment law attorney and the user or browser.