About the Healthy Workplace Bill
About the Healthy Workplace Bill
Here are the main features of the bill :
Provides workers with a legal claim for severe workplace bullying, by showing that the behavior intentionally created an abusive work environment that caused physical and/or psychological harm.
Imposes liability on both employers and individual abusers, while allowing employers to reduce their liability exposure by preventing and responding effectively to bullying situations.
Claims are brought directly in court; there is no administrative agency involvement.
The Need for Legal Reform
Current Law Does Not Protect Bullying Targets or Encourage Employer Prevention:
Most instances of severe workplace bullying, especially those unrelated to protected class status (sex, race, disability, etc.) and whistleblower retaliation, fall between the cracks of existing employment law.
Targets of severe workplace bullying are repeatedly told by plaintiffs’ attorneys that they have no legal recourse.
In the 2021 Workplace Bullying Institute national scientific survey conducted by Zogby, 61% of respondents “strongly support” and 29% of respondents “somewhat support” workplace bullying laws. 90% of the public wants a law that extends beyond nondiscrimination laws.