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Bully Bosses, Watch Out!

This month's issue of HR Magazine addresses the issues of bullying bosses and employees that just shouldn't have to take it anymore. The article mentions that there are proposals from over a dozen states lobbying for some form of workplace bullying legislation. Stephen Hirschfeld, CEO for the Employment Law Alliance notes a recent anti-bullying law in Quebec that gives workers the right to file suit against their employers and recover damages for "any vexatious behavior that affects and employee's dignity or their psychological or physical integrity."

Wow - that would be a a step in the right direction.

Hirschfeld also notes that such legislation in the US could pose problematic for employers because typically, workplace bullies can be high performers, aggressive with Type A personalities, that tend to be rewarded in the workplace.

Will bullying bosses ever go away? Probably not, but with new legislation perhaps their bank accounts will feel the pinch as a result.

Sun, 04/29/2007 - 2:07pm

Hi Ragan,
great Post - but will the legislation also apply with the bullying or caustic employee in the workplace?

There was a couple great post on Linked-In Q&A along this same lines about caustic employees and what how one would define the bad apple.

When you think about it there are some individuals who appear to always think that they are the "victims" but yet they are the ones who have shown a routine of creating so annihilation wherever they go.

Somehow they never take responsibility for their actions - no matter how many jobs they were fired from, associations that dropped them, friends that leave them because of their behavior. They will blame everyone for their lack of accommodation of their expectations, and have a problem of accepting responsibility of their actions.

These employees behavior ultimately becomes contagious and chronic in the workplace and will ultimately impose upon their peers and bosses a tremendous burden of negative emotions and bewilderment, as they adopt this person’s own perplexing emotions and behaviors. The work place or environment becomes very stressful and caustic for many involved, and initially the source is difficult to find, as this individual tends to point what primarily appears to be compelling fingers at others as they diverted ‘blame’ and attention from their own .

Myself with a few friends went through something similar with a bully not too long ago. What was bizarre was this individuals inability to recognize that they themselves were the cause of the problems, in spite of their own Proven pattern and Path for self destruction, they remain delusional - their own insecurities created a tremendous amount of frustration to many, but also a real fear.
The question was always in the back of one's mind what was/is this person capable of?

In the Wake of Virginia Tech, and the anniversaries of Columbine, and the Snipers in D.C.. this really is something to make one have to think seriously about. It isn't just the bosses we should be concerned of.

Karen Mattonen C.A.C, C.S.P
Recruiting Standards Resources
TEL: 858-668-3111
Email: contact@recruitingstandardsresources.com
Web: www.recruitingstandardsresources.com
Recruiting Standards Resources (RSR) is your training specialist.

Sat, 04/28/2007 - 6:37pm

As long as bullying bosses are supported and their acts reinforced by their superiors, they will continue to exist.

But when all levels of management notice the rate of attrition and the cost of it, some modification will occur.

When finally files a negligence claim against the employer for unsafe work environment, negligent hiring, or any other similar theory of law, employers will be motivated to get the bully by the horns and out of the china shop -- and in Hell, where they belong!

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