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.

• https://healthyworkplacebill.org/campaign/ma/