Although there are no current laws in the United States against this specific violence, there is a Healthy Workplace Bill that has been introduced to mandate responsibility in the work environment. A policy needs to be in effect to allow training, safe reporting and providing help for the victim or target with punitive action toward the bully. As stated by Duffy (2009), workplace mobbing or bullying is devastating to the health and well-being of individuals and also to the organizations by having lost productivity, legal costs, and high turnover. Legislation and policy development are two initiatives that help prevent such bullying that would be more effective than relying on the organizations to do the right thing (Duffy, 2009).
There have been many campaigns and attempts for legislatures ruling in favor of the Healthy Workplace Bill (HWB). This bill would mandate companies to enforce policies against workplace bullying and there would be protection and rights of the targeted employee. According to the healthy workplace campaign (Namie, 2012), in the United States, there are currently 21 states since 2003 that have introduced the HWB, with no laws enacted to date.
Opponents of the workplace antibullying laws fear that legislation will open floodgates and increase employment litigation and result in increase costs to the company (Martucci and Sinatra,2009). In light of the current economy, there is concern that there would be increased liability, costs to the company and potential negative exposure for the employer.
References:
Duffy, M. (2009). Preventing workplace mobbing and bullying with effective organizational consultation, policies, and
legislation. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 6 (3), 242-262.
Martucci, W. C. & Sinatra, K. R. (2009). Antibullying legislation- A growing national trend in the new workplace.
Employment Relations Today, 35 (4), 77-83.
Namie, G. (2012). Healthy workplace bill. The healthyworkplace campaign. Retrieved March 30, 2012 from
http://www.healthyworkplacebill.org/states.php
There have been many campaigns and attempts for legislatures ruling in favor of the Healthy Workplace Bill (HWB). This bill would mandate companies to enforce policies against workplace bullying and there would be protection and rights of the targeted employee. According to the healthy workplace campaign (Namie, 2012), in the United States, there are currently 21 states since 2003 that have introduced the HWB, with no laws enacted to date.
Opponents of the workplace antibullying laws fear that legislation will open floodgates and increase employment litigation and result in increase costs to the company (Martucci and Sinatra,2009). In light of the current economy, there is concern that there would be increased liability, costs to the company and potential negative exposure for the employer.
References:
Duffy, M. (2009). Preventing workplace mobbing and bullying with effective organizational consultation, policies, and
legislation. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 6 (3), 242-262.
Martucci, W. C. & Sinatra, K. R. (2009). Antibullying legislation- A growing national trend in the new workplace.
Employment Relations Today, 35 (4), 77-83.
Namie, G. (2012). Healthy workplace bill. The healthyworkplace campaign. Retrieved March 30, 2012 from
http://www.healthyworkplacebill.org/states.php