Bullying in the Workplace

Workplace bullying is generally known as the repeated mistreatment of a person by one or more employees that takes the form of verbal abuse or conduct or behaviors that are threatening, intimidating, or humiliating. Bullying may also include sabotage that prevents work from getting done or some combination of all of the above. These workplace behaviors have the potential of inflicting serious emotional distress and harm upon the battered individual. However, as predominant as bullying in the workplace may be, there are very little rights to recourse under law. Particularly, because bullying claims quite often do not meet the requirements under workplace harassment or discrimination laws.

What is Workplace Harassment?

Workplace harassment is closely related to bullying in a sense that they share similar characteristics. However, harassment constitutes more severity to the point where the unwanted and undesirable conduct becomes so severe and pervasive that it alters the terms and conditions of employment and creates a discriminatory abusive working environment. Bullying can quickly turn into workplace harassment if the conduct continues for enough time. The distinction is important because the law, at this moment, only protects against discrimination in the workplace and different forms of harassment. Many individuals who experience workplace bullying fall short of any legal redress because the behavior does not amount to what is required to satisfy the elements of a harassment claim.

The Healthy Workplace Bill

Although there is currently no legal recourse for individuals who are victims of workplace bullying, legislators are working for the passage of a law that will protect individuals against bullying in the workplace. The Healthy Workplace Bill will make it an unlawful employment practice to subject an employee to an abusive work environment. “Abusive work environment” shall occur when an employer or one or more of its employees, acting with intent to cause pain or distress to an employee, subjects that employee to abusive conduct that causes physical harm, psychological harm, or both. The Bill further states that repeated verbal abuse, derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a threatening, intimidating, or humiliating nature will all be concluded as “abusive conduct”.

The purpose of this proposed Bill and many other like it, is to deter abusive behavior on all levels, in both the workplace and other surroundings where bullying may cause harmful consequences to any individual who experiences it. If you have experienced or are currently experiencing harassment, discrimination or bullying in your workplace, you have many options. Do not hesitate to reach out to one of our experienced attorneys at EPGD Business Law, with offices in Miami, FL, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach, FL. Call us at (786) 837-6787 or email us to schedule a consultation.

EPGD Business Law is located in beautiful Coral Gables. Call us at (786) 837-6787, or contact us through the website to schedule a consultation.

*Disclaimer: this blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns. Contacting us through our website does not establish an attorney-client relationship.*

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Eric Gros-Dubois

Founding partner Eric Gros-Dubois established EPGD Business Law in 2013. With over a decade of experience expanding the firm and leading it to its current success, Eric now primarily manages the corporate division of EPGD. Given Eric’s educational background, holding both a JD and MBA, combined with his own unique experience of starting a business from scratch and growing it to a multi-million dollar firm, he brings a specialized and invaluable perspective to those seeking legal assistance for themselves and their businesses. Having now instilled his same values in our team of skilled corporate associates, Eric leads a firm that is always ready, willing, and equipped to handle any and every legal matter that a business owner may have.

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