February 3rd, 2009
Lawmakers May Study Abusive Workplace Issues
By Heather May Salt Lake Tribune February 3, 2009
This summer, lawmakers may study whether they can and should outlaw “an abusive work environment” in government-owned health care settings, such as the University of Utah.
Members of the House Health and Human Services weren’t ready to legislate against bad behavior, and instead recommended HB224 be studied.
Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, said the bill is aimed mainly at residency programs where there have been instances of supervisors targeting trainees with verbal abuse or behavior aimed at undermining their work, forcing them to quit.
Bill supporters noted current law doesn’t protect employees from such abuse unless the harassment is based on sex or race. They said intimidating behavior can psychologically harm employees and can lead to medical errors when providers are scared to speak up. A national accrediting agency now requires hospitals to have codes of conduct on such behavior.
But opponents, including the state’s risk manager, said it would be a vast departure from current law. And they said it would invite lawsuits, since it would be creating a new protected class of employees in what is now a right-to-work state.
Tags: HB224, healthcare bullying, Healthy Workplace Bill, Utah
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 3:58 pm and is filed under Bullying in the News, Legislative Campaign. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Bullies at work is a huge problem. Thanks for caring
I am at my wits end. I have worked at my job for 7 years. The immediate supervisor has changed three times and only one, who only lasted for one year, was a poor manager. However, the true “boss” is a mean, vindictive man, who is a complete and utter bully. He today told me that he could fire a contracted employee for putting a staple in the wall, and he would withhold a months pay for the damage to the wall. When I suggested that he contact a lawyer before taking the action, he was incensed and yelled at me that he can do anything he wants because it is his job. You might be surprised, but my job is a teacher in a school. We were told that we would be fired he if didn’t do exactly what he told us to do, every minute of the day, in or out of the school, and he may just fire up anyway. I love teaching, but I don’t know how I stay working for someone who is only there to control us 24 hours a day. He has an amazing staff who stay more than an extra hour each day than required, come in on weekends, and go out of their way for kids. Still, he is only yelling and threatening. I really don’t know what to do. I have lost sleep, cried, became angry, applied for other jobs, but I really love the kids, families and my specific area I am teaching. I keep thinking he will leave, but his supervisors say they understand, but keep him at our school. HELP!!!
Joanie,
School administrations can be especially cruel. You alone should not be made to solve this problem. The District is responsible for him and the solution. Because of the threats he makes to you and others, together the group should go to District legal counsel (not HR) and tell him or her how his conduct is putting the District at risk. Use the violence policy since they do not have a bullying one. For starters, all the women can accuse him of sexual harassment and hostile work environment. Truth be told, his abuse of just one man will be an adequate defense, but at least you can stall the District and force them to look at him as dispensable. Please know that when any such actions are taken by you, retaliation will come quickly and furiously. But it’s already bad and too many of you are suffering in silence. Where is your union?!?!
Gary Namie
The thing is that I work for a private, Christian school, and the administrator is a religious person. The contract is totally one-sided and binding. I can literally be fired for anything at any time. The administrator knows that and is using that against us. He is an equal opportunity harasser, so there is no sexual aspect to it. He is also mean to the kids, which I feel will be his undoing. There is an entity above him, and my principal is going to reach to that level. In the mean time, what do I do to protect myself and the kids?
Oh – there is no union. I also am in a right to work state, so employee rights are worthless. I am thinking about contacting a lawyer, but one lawyer has told me he can do what he wants in this manner because of the contract.