Until now, there has been little help for victims of workplace bullying.
If you've ever sought assistance, you've no doubt heard such things as "there is no law against bullying." Most employers have policies against workplace violence and make lofty statements about treating employees with dignity and respect, but these policies are unevenly enforced, if at all, and, more importantly, they provide the worker with absolutely no legal protection.
Employers are not legally obligated to abide by their own policies, a sad fact that comes as a shock to many. In fact, employers happily advocate the so-called "equal opportunity offender" defense. They argue that the boss who mistreats everyone does not discriminate and therefore cannot be sued, because nobody is being treated differently and the law does not require bosses to be nice.
There is a difference between "not nice" and sadism.
Do you love your job but hate coming to work every day, because your boss makes your life miserable? Is your boss's out of control behavior making it impossible to be productive? Are you walking on eggshells, because you never know when the boss is going to explode, whether are you or someone else? Has your boss's behavior affected your life outside of work?
I've practiced law for 40 years. I've spent 25 of those 40 years protecting the rights of employees in the workplace. I believe that there will soon be laws in some states against workplace bullying. I doubt very much that there will be a federal law anytime soon, given the stranglehold that the Republicans have on the legislative process and their animus against worker rights. But even in states that are likely to pass new laws, change will not come about for years.
What do you do now?
I've been developing theories under existing laws to use against employers who tolerate abusive managers. I'm ready to start taking on cases.
In order for me to evaluate a potential bullying case, here is the information that I will need:
• What are the specific acts of bullying? Yelling? Uncontrollable temper? Throwing things? Name Calling? Physical aggression? Public humiliation?
• Who is he/she doing this to?
• If you are being singled out, or you are part of a group that is singled out, why do you think that is?
• What effect has this had on you?
• Have you and/or others complained about this employee's behavior? Who else in the company is aware of it?
I welcome the opportunity to review your information and determine whether I can be of assistance.