Ed Wasserman was a reporter and is now a professor of journalism ethics at Washington & Lee University. He opined in his Aug. 29 newspaper column on the media about the Kevin Morrissey suicide story at the University of Virginia that would not have been a story without the “tilt of coverage toward this hot new social malady” (thanks for the back-handed compliment about awareness about workplace bullying).
In August, 2010 the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) commissioned Zogby International to conduct a survey of adult Americans. The results showed that workplace bullying is still a problem for 53 million Americans. In the scientific, national poll, 34.4% of Americans report personally being bullied. By including those who only witness it, 49% of the population is aware of bullying at work, while 51% say that have neither experienced nor seen it. Continue reading this article… »
NBC’s new fall show “Outsourced” and New Line Cinema’s 2011 movie “Horrible Bosses” speak volumes about our attitudes toward job loss and abusive workplaces. Both projects promote dilbert-like fun while simultaneously mocking employees. It’s all a distraction to prevent our focus on employers making horrific decisions — dumping working Americans on the street while chasing cheap labor elsewhere or propping up horrific bullies instead of purging them. Are they laughing at us or with us?
Disagreeableness or antagonism as a personality trait certainly seems to part of most bullies’ personalities. New research (published August 16, 2010 in Hypertension) links the trait with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) for both genders, but more pronounced in women. Antagonistic people have a higher risk of stroke. The finding strengthens the case that evidence exists that psychosocial factors impact health as much as physical factors do. Continue reading this article… »
To help celebrate Freedom Week 2010 in Northern California, spend
An Evening with Ruth and Gary Namie
Tuesday October 19, South San Francisco – Grosvenor Best Western Hotel Wednesday October 20, Sacramento — Radisson Sacramento
Each night the doors open at 6 pm.
The Drs. Namie will lead a seminar from 7 to 9 pm covering.
• Updates on the newest science related to bullying
• Status of the workplace bullying movement begun in Benicia in ’97
• Employer responses to bullying
• Status of the law in various states
Huffington Post columnist Wendy Powell explores workplace bullying, weaving in the Kevin Morrissey story, the WBI national prevalence study, and the Healthy Workplace Bill campaign. As an HR veteran, she warns us: “Don’t assume that administrators or human resource professionals have the skills to handle these serious types of allegations and investigations. Contract a skilled professional to provide training and practice so they will be well prepared when the needs arise.” Exactly what we have been saying.
On Monday Aug. 23, the NBC-TV Today Show aired an interview with Maria Morrissey, sister of Kevin Morrissey who committed suicide on July 30 in Charlottesville, VA in connection with his job at the Virginia Quarterly Review on the campus of the University of Virginia. Also interviewed was Morrissey’s co-worker, Waldo Jaquith. For the most details about the story, read The Hook article.
Virginia Public Radio reporter Sandy Hausman interviewed Maria Morrissey, sister of suicide victim Kevin Morrissey, Dr. Gary Namie – WBI Director, and Ted Genoways attorney Snook for Aug. 23, 2010 report.
The most detailed account of events at the University of Virginia that led up to Kevin Morrissey’s suicide can be found in the Charlottesville newspaper, The Hook:
WBI is the only United States organization dedicated to the eradication of workplace bullying that combines help for individuals, research, public education, consulting for employers, and legislative advocacy.
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Who We Are
WBI is the only United States organization dedicated to the eradication of workplace bullying that combines help for individuals, research, public education, consulting for employers, and legislative advocacy.