Workplace BullyingReal Implications of a Developing Concept
Prepared for South Piedmont Community College
By
Kenneth Bandy
Can You Identify the Bully?
A Story with 3 Endings
String feels anxious whenever Orbit's heavy feet pad the adjacent hallway. Nearly every day Orbit asks String for status on the plywood project. With stern look, folded arms, & broad shoulders Orbit fills the cubicle doorway. “So what have you done since yesterday?” is the typical question. Orbit's terse grunt follows String's nervous explanation. String endeavors to control breathing as Orbit's head methodically shakes back & forth.
Definition
Workplace Bullying is repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators. It is abusive conduct that is :
● Threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, or
● Work interference — sabotage — which prevents work from getting done, or
● Verbal abuse
Workplace Bullying Institute, July 2014
Bullying Legislation
● Tennessee Healthy Workplace Act (May 2014)
– Grants public-sector employers immune to bullying-related lawsuits if they adopt a policy that complies with the law.
– Applies only to public-sector employers, & administrators aren’t required to follow guidelines that the law ordered a state commission to draft by March 2015.
– Individual employees may still be held personally liable for abusive conduct.
Which Ending is Best?
● Relief by Mutually Assured Destruction.● With the help of a few trusted coworkers
the String learned to survive until moving to another department.
● Orbit became aware through multiple messages and cues that the behavior was being monitored & recorded, & that options were available to make changes.
Organizational Context
Individual Performance Context1.Acquire/Understand
Position Description
2.Establish a Comfortable Level of Social Engagement in Workplace Community
3.Document Assignments, Schedules & Deadlines
4.Document Ongoing Offenses
5.Attempt to Communicate Concerns w/ Offending Party*
Individual Performance Context
6.Use Formal Channels to Report Suspect Behavior (Document Responses)
7.Consider 3rd Party Review (Collegial/Legal/Professional)
8.Consider Alternative Legal Foundations for Complaint
9.Record Physical Reactions /Health Issues
10.Follow Instructions IAW Policies
Legal/Procedural Remedies
● External– Criminal Law
– Civil Litigation (Tort Law)
● Employer's Failure Failure to Follow its Own Procedures
– Grievances
– Appeal Process
Student Behavior
● Mental or physical abuse of any person on physical or virtual college premises or at college sponsored functions, including verbal or physical actions which threaten or endanger an individual’s health or safety.
SPCC Student Handbook, 2013-14
References
● Namie, G. (2014). The Healthy Workplace Bill website, accessed online @ http://www.healthyworkplacebill.org/
● Reubenfire, A. (2014). Wall Street Journal, accessed online@ http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/06/20/first- state-workplace-bullying-law-has-few-fans/
SPCC Student Handbook (2013-14), accessed online @http://www.spcc.edu/uploads/Student%20
Success/Student-Handbook-2013-2014.pdf
● Workplace Bullying Institute (2014). Website accessed online @http://workplacebullying.org/multi/pdf/
WBI-2014-US-Survey.pdf
Workplace BullyingReal Implications of a Developing Concept
Prepared for South Piedmont Community College
By
Kenneth Bandy
Can You Identify the Bully?
A Story with 3 Endings
String feels anxious whenever Orbit's heavy feet pad the adjacent hallway. Nearly every day Orbit asks String for status on the plywood project. With stern look, folded arms, & broad shoulders Orbit fills the cubicle doorway. “So what have you done since yesterday?” is the typical question. Orbit's terse grunt follows String's nervous explanation. String endeavors to control breathing as Orbit's head methodically shakes back & forth.
Definition
Workplace Bullying is repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons (the targets) by one or more perpetrators. It is abusive conduct that is :
● Threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, or
● Work interference — sabotage — which prevents work from getting done, or
● Verbal abuse
Workplace Bullying Institute, July 2014
Bullying Legislation
● Tennessee Healthy Workplace Act (May 2014)
– Grants public-sector employers immune to bullying-related lawsuits if they adopt a policy that complies with the law.
– Applies only to public-sector employers, & administrators aren’t required to follow guidelines that the law ordered a state commission to draft by March 2015.
– Individual employees may still be held personally liable for abusive conduct.
Which Ending is Best?
● Relief by Mutually Assured Destruction.● With the help of a few trusted coworkers
the String learned to survive until moving to another department.
● Orbit became aware through multiple messages and cues that the behavior was being monitored & recorded, & that options were available to make changes.
Organizational Context
Individual Performance Context1.Acquire/Understand
Position Description
2.Establish a Comfortable Level of Social Engagement in Workplace Community
3.Document Assignments, Schedules & Deadlines
4.Document Ongoing Offenses
5.Attempt to Communicate Concerns w/ Offending Party*
Individual Performance Context
6.Use Formal Channels to Report Suspect Behavior (Document Responses)
7.Consider 3rd Party Review (Collegial/Legal/Professional)
8.Consider Alternative Legal Foundations for Complaint
9.Record Physical Reactions /Health Issues
10.Follow Instructions IAW Policies
Legal/Procedural Remedies
● External– Criminal Law
– Civil Litigation (Tort Law)
● Employer's Failure Failure to Follow its Own Procedures
– Grievances
– Appeal Process
Student Behavior
● Mental or physical abuse of any person on physical or virtual college premises or at college sponsored functions, including verbal or physical actions which threaten or endanger an individual’s health or safety.
SPCC Student Handbook, 2013-14
References
● Namie, G. (2014). The Healthy Workplace Bill website, accessed online @ http://www.healthyworkplacebill.org/
● Reubenfire, A. (2014). Wall Street Journal, accessed online@ http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/06/20/first- state-workplace-bullying-law-has-few-fans/
SPCC Student Handbook (2013-14), accessed online @http://www.spcc.edu/uploads/Student%20
Success/Student-Handbook-2013-2014.pdf
● Workplace Bullying Institute (2014). Website accessed online @http://workplacebullying.org/multi/pdf/
WBI-2014-US-Survey.pdf