Some thoughts on workplace bullying and violence in light of the Annie Le case

[Kathy]

Dear Friends,

We have all been shocked and horrified by the murder of Annie Le at
Yale. A graduate student who also worked in a lab, she was the co-
worker of her alleged killer, Ray Clark. Based on news reports, we do
not know much, but we do know that Ray sent emails to her that berated
her for her lack of proper protocol concerning the lab's mice. It is
this kind of petty tyranny that workplace bullies inflict upon targets
every day. It is not every day that they murder their targets, as Ray
Clark is charged with doing.
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/authorities-annie-le-death-was-workplace-violence-1.1455388

Recently, a former student athlete at CCSU, where I teach, has alleged
that his coach, George Kewacki, made him drink blood in front of
teammates. http://www.newsnet5.com/news/20974558/detail.html
http://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/CaseDetail/PublicCaseDetail.aspx?DocketNo=HHBCV096002041S
While there are racial overtones to this incident, it is also an
instance of bullying. Like Annie Le, the student athlete hovers
between "school" (bullying is banned by law in CT schools from K
through 12) and work (there are no workplace bullying laws).

In that space, college/work, the opportunities for bullying are rife.
So much depends on one's performance and compliance, from scholarships
to housing to careers, that targets are naturally reluctant to speak
out.

If you have experience as a graduate student worker, or as a student
athlete, and you have been bullied, please write to your state
legislators. Ask them to include in the Healthy Workplace Bill
provisions for protecting those who are also the employees of their
colleges or are holding some sort of contract for services rendered.

I saw on the news an "expert" who claimed that workplace violence was
rare. Perhaps murder is rare. But bullying, which is violence, is not
rare. We know that 37% of the American workforce has experienced
bullying at some time, based on research done by the Workplace
Bullying Institute and Zogby polls.

Although the time has passed for legislation for this year, let's gear
up for next session. Let's remember Annie Le and all those whose very
lives have been at stake because of workplace bullying.

Kathy

[Kathy]

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for the email and your strong arugments. I would add that this
is a
time to consider bridging our fight for legislation against "Workplace
Bullying" to the larger issue of Workplace Violence. That bill DID
pass for
public employees in NY. Which shows legislative movement on the issue.
It
also gives context to the definition of workplace bullying.

As you know, Type III Workplace Violence is among co-workers and
includes
bullying and intimidation. The tragic cases you outline both fall
within
that category. Which is why the horrific Yale murder was quickly
labled a
case of Workplace Violence.

NY has set the precedence for this and they are already involved in
extensive scientific research which is specifically about worker-on-
worker
violence. This legislation will be a useful tool to force employers to
conduct preventative workshops and enact specific procedures - which
is not
unlike what the Healthy Workplace Bill asks for. Non-compliance on the
part
of businesses results in pre-determined penalties to the employer.

If you're interested, feel free to check out my blog for more
information on
the Governor Paterson's veto of a bill to study hostile workplaces and
to
see Paterson's veto memo ( bullyinworkplace.wordpress.com )

- Bev Peterson