Petition to Pass the Healthy Workplace Bill in the 2015 Legislative Session

Click here to see and sign the Petition to Pass the Healthy Workplace Bill in 2015.

As the legislative session opens in Connecticut, we need to remind legislators that we care about the issue of workplace bullying and we want them to make it illegal.
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For more information on the bill, go to www.healthyworkplacebill.org. 

Freedom Week: A Call to Stop Workplace Bullying, Oct. 19-25, 2014

Freedom Week: A Call to Stop Workplace Bullying

(Hartford, CT)  Freedom from Workplace Bullies Week, October 19-25, 2014 is a national awareness-raising event sponsored by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI). “Freedom Week is the chance to break through the shame and silence surrounding workplace bullying,” says Dr. Gary Namie, WBI co-founder and co-author of The Bully-FreeWorkplace: Stop Jerks, Weasels, and Snakes From Killing Your Organization (Wiley, 2011).

WBI defines Workplace Bullying as abusive conduct committed by one or more perpetrators. According to the latest scientific WBI national survey, over one-quarter of adult Americans, 27%, have been the target of workplace bullying. A startling 65 million Americans are negatively affected by abusive conduct at work. Damages include harm to employee health and job loss; employers suffer lost productivity and lawsuits.

It’s an epidemic but fear of losing one’s job in these tough economic times leads to underreporting. It’s a silent epidemic.

“I lost a close friend who committed suicide in 2005,” remembers Dr. Katherine Hermes, a history professor at Central Connecticut State University. “When she tried to report the abusive conduct, it was called a personality conflict. We didn’t know what to call what happened to her until finding the Workplace Bullying Institute, which explained the phenomenon. Now I understand it is like domestic violence. It does the same thing to a person, inducing shame, pain and health problems from stress, including PTSD.” Both men and women can experience workplace bullying.

“I want to make sure every workplace is free from bullying, so that is why I formed Connecticut HealthyWorkplace Advocates,” Hermes says. “We spread information through social media like Twitter and Facebook, and we advocate for legislation. Conscientious managers and employers can learn to stop it.”

In years past, several cities and counties across the country have proclaimed “Freedom from Workplace Bullies Week,” including New London, Newtown, Torrington, and New Milford.  This year the town of Chaplin and the city of Groton have issued proclamations. CentralConnecticut State University President Jack Miller has proclaimed Freedom Week on his campus for the last several years and has done so again in 2014. It is a time for bullied individuals and their families to plan ways to leave damaging jobs. Unions should awake to bullying within their ranks. Employers should commit to stop the preventable losses. Lawmakers can introduce a state bill to curb bullying in the workplace called the Healthy Workplace Bill.

The first Connecticut state version of the Healthy Workplace Bill, SB 371, was introduced in the General Assembly by Sen. Thomas Colapietro in 2007. It was heard in the Labor and Public Employees Committee chaired by Sen. Edith Prague, who also introduced it the next year. In 2009, 2010 and 2012, various bills concerning workplace bullying using some language from the Healthy Workplace Bill have been introduced. Current Labor and Public Employees Committee co-chair Sen. GaryHolder-Winfield has introduced and supported bills on workplace bullying in the past. Puerto Rico’s legislature passed the Healthy Workplace Bill in 2014, but the governor vetoed it.

Contact:

Connecticut Healthy Workplace Advocates

Coordinator: Katherine Hermes, J.D., Ph.D.

Email: ctbullybusters@gmail.com

Contact: 

Gary Namie, Director, WBI, 360-656-6630

WBI:  http://workplacebullying.org/freedom-week

HWB:  http://healthyworkplacebill.org

WBI is the first and only research and education U.S. organization dedicated to the eradication of abusive conduct in the workplace.

Abusive Workplace Bullying Affects 48% of Americans While Employer Reactions Lag

Abusive Workplace Bullying Affects 48% of Americans While Employer Reactions Lag

Results of scientific 2014 WBI U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey shows epidemic prevalence, women bearing the brunt of the bullying, employers failing to protect the bullied, and nearly unanimous support for creating a new law.

NEW BRITAIN, CT — Feb. 25 — The Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) defined workplace bullying as “abusive conduct that is threatening, intimidating, humiliating, work sabotage or verbal abuse” in its 2014 national survey. Key results: 27% of all adult Americans have directly experienced it, 21% have witnessed it, 56% of perpetrators are bosses, 68% of perpetrators are men, and 60% of targets (recipients) are women.

Since WBI introduced workplace bullying to the country in 1997 public awareness has risen to 72% according to the new survey. Similarly positive is that the percentage of bullies who are bosses has declined over the years.

Employers do little to stop workplace bullying. The majority (72%) reacted to complaints in inappropriate ways: 25% did not investigate, 31% either discounted it as not serious or considered it routine, 11% defended bullies, and 5% actively encouraged the abuse.

In cases where bullying ended, targets lost their jobs 61% of the time — either terminated, forced to quit (constructively discharged), or voluntarily quit.

“Unfortunately the victims of this serious health-harming abuse are the ones asked to stop it,” says WBI director Dr. Gary Namie, “If there were a law as in Canada and other industrialized nations, employers would have to protect workers.”

According to the survey an overwhelming majority of Americans (93%) supported enactment of a new law that would protect all workers from repeated abusive mistreatment at work. Only 1% strongly opposed such a measure.

WBI commissioned Zogby Analytics to conduct the survey of a national representative sample of all adult Americans (MOE ± 3.2%). Crowdfunded on Indiegogo with major support from OnLock Digital Authentication LLC.

WBI is the first and only U.S. organization dedicated to the eradication of workplace bullying that combines help for individuals, research, books, public education, training for professionals-unions-employers, legislative advocacy, and consulting solutions for organizations. 

Conference at Norwalk Comm. Coll.: Bullies, Bullied, Bystanders

The Fairfield County Women’s Center at Norwalk Community College is pleased to send you program information for the Bully, Bullied, Bystander: Trends and New Directions events scheduled for March 5 and March 6. March 5 --- 10am --- East Campus PepsiCo Theatre

Keynote Speaker: Barbara Greenberg, Ph.D. “Redefining Our Social Roles”
Barbara Greenberg, Ph.D., clinical psychologist consultant at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, is an author and therapist in private practice in Weston, CT working with adults, families and couples for more than twenty years.


March 5 --- 11:30am --- East Campus PepsiCo Theatre

Panel Presentation:
-Erin Livensparger – Planned Parenthood - LGBTQ
-Katherine Hermes – Central Connecticut State University – Healthy Workplace Bill
-Samantha McCord - CT State Police Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Unit – Cyberbullying

http://www.norwalkplus.com/nwk/information/nwsnwk/publish/education/NCC-to-host-bullying-symposium_np_15935.shtml
March 6 --- 11:30am --- East Campus PepsiCo Theatre

Panel presentations:
-Carrie Bernier – Domestic Violence Crisis Center – Connecticut Law & Bullying
-Robert Baer – Norwalk Community College - Dean of Students – NCC School Policy & Bullying
-Samantha McCord - Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes and Electronic Evidence Unit – Cyberbullying


Student and Community Partners Tabling Event in the Atrium and Lobby
Monday, March 5th 9:30am - Tuesday, March 6th 2pm

Anti-Bullying Pledge available for signature throughout

Public Hearing for AN ACT CONCERNING STATE EMPLOYEES AND VIOLENCE AND ABUSIVE CONDUCT IN THE WORKPLACE

http://www.facebook.com/events/308388472557448/ 
Thursday, March 8, 2012 
12:00pm until 5:00pm 
Room 2A of the LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING, HARTFORD CT 
PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA 
Thursday, March 8, 2012 
12:00 PM in Room 2A of the LOB 
1. S.B. No. 154 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING STATE EMPLOYEES AND 
VIOLENCE AND ABUSIVE CONDUCT IN THE WORKPLACE

LGBTQ People in the Closet at Work

Connecticut Freedom From Workplace Bullies Week   Speaker Karen Sumberg, Director of the Center for Work-Life Policy, NEW YORK and author of a study on Gays In the Closet at Work Tuesday, October 18, 2011
4:30 pm-6:00 pm Founders Hall, inside Davidson Hall, at Central Connecticut State University Click HERE http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?id=2272&verbose=4592&backcal=1 for more information

The Power of "Out" by by Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Karen SumbergUntil now, the direct line has not been clearly drawn between the corporate closet and the revolving door. New research from the Center for Work-Life Policy quantifies the loss to U.S. companies that fail to create a workplace hospitable to their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Our data show the consequences of LGBT employees forced to keep their lives and loved ones a secret from colleagues. Also included in the report are cutting-edge initiatives employed by a range of companies to break down barriers for their LGBT employees. 

Our Speaker at 4:30 on Tuesday, Oct. 18, Karen Sumberg, Director of the Center for Work-Life Policy, gave this interview with NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/07/07/137672101/coming-to-work-but-not-coming-out

CONNECTICUT FREEDOM FROM WORKPLACE BULLIES WEEK, OCT 16-22, 2011

CONNECTICUT FREEDOM FROM WORKPLACE BULLIES WEEK: 

Oct. 17, 10 am at Torrington City Hall, Mayor Ryan Bingham will proclaim Freedom From Workplace Bullies Week. Other mayors who will make proclamations: East Haven, Milford, Newtown. (There is still time to ask your mayor. Contact kathyhermes@rocketmail.com by Oct. 6. We have a prepared text.).

October 18: Speaker Karen Sumberg, DIRECTOR of the Center for Work-Life Policy, NEW YORK and author of a study on Gays In the Closet at Work. FOUNDERS HALL. 4:30 pm-6:00 pm.

October 20: "Is Connecticut Ready for Healthy Workplaces?: A Forum on Law, Psychology, and Society's Response to Abusive Conduct in the Workplace." Speakers include Tom Witt of New York Health Workplace Advocates, and Vicki J. Magley, Ph.D. Department of Psychology-University of Connecticut. Diloreto 001, 6:30-8:30 pm.

Please invite friends, students, colleagues! For more info about events, email hermesk@ccsu.edu.

Parking is free. You can use any lot, but the Manafort lot is closest. 
Map of campus: http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=4191 
Directions: http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=1378

The New Britain Library will also have a display throughout November on workplace bullying.

We also have T-shirts for sale for $15 at events. Cash or check.

Thank you for your support.

Kathy Hermes
Connecticut Healthy Workplace Advocates on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/5103936939/
Connecticut Freedom from Workplace Bullies Week on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199136926803783

Meeting Saturday June 18, 2011 at 2 pm for all interested people

Strategy Meeting for Workplace Bullying

From:	Kathy Hermes   View Contact
To:	Connecticut Bullybusters

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Strategy meeting to Pass a Healthy Workplace Bill in CT in 2012

Time	18 June · 14:00 - 15:30
Location	Tony's Central Pizza Place1537 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 06053-3200 (860) 225-5625 Bus: Paul Manafort Dr and Facuity Lot D
Created by:	Kathy Hermes
For	Connecticut Healthy Workplace Advocates
More info	Pizza is on me if you RSVP. Legislative materials will be available.

Katherine A. Hermes, J.D., Ph.D.

Volunteer Coordinator

Connecticut Healthy Workplace Advocates
http://www.change.org/connecticut_healthy_workplace_advocates
http://groups.google.com/group/connecticut-bullybusters
http://ctbullybusters.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5103936939