Nearly half of state legislatures have adopted policies that discourage workplace bullying, suggesting officials want business owners to implement similar measures in their HR compliance programs.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 21 states have introduced legislation known as "The Healthy Workforce Bill." Among other things, the bill would define what an abusive work environment is, plug the gaps in state laws that deal with civil rights protections and give employers a list of reasons that justify why an individual could be fired if they're found to be persecuting a co-worker.
Catherine Mattice, president of consulting firm Civility Partners LLC, indicated that business owners would be wise to adopt anti-bullying protocols.
"You have to tell [employees] what they should be doing," said Mattice. "You’ve got to focus on the positive workplace."
Despite 21 states introducing the bill, it hasn't been signed into law anywhere as of yet, SHRM reports.
A recent survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute showed that half of U.S. workers have experienced or observed bullying while on the job.
