Foundation Focuses on Bullying
Bullying: It's Not Just Kids on the Playground.
Bullying: It's Not Just Kids on the Playground.
By Ellen Dweck
New Jersey Law Journal
December 23, 2008
For many adults in the workplace, getting the job done is only part of the day's challenges. They also face the emotional onslaught of such intimidating behaviors as false accusations, hostile glares, yelling, insults, isolation and unreasonably heavy work demands. Bullying is more than just a social problem. It has wide-ranging ramifications on productivity, health and even legal issues.
But what exactly constitutes bullying in the workplace? Is every instance of negativity a bullying tactic? How can a victim get help and learn to counter bullying effectively?
Answering those questions was the focus of a Workplace Bullying Issues workshop held recently at the Law Center in New Brunswick. A panel of experts in the field of bullying explored the many facets of the problem and effective coping strategies. The workshop was sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the Organization of Chinese Americans - New Jersey Chapter. The workshop is one of many ways in which the educational and philanthropic arm of the New Jersey State Bar Association has taken the lead in the state on the issue of bullying. Indeed, the foundation offers more training in the area, and has been doing so longer, than any other entity in the state, according to officials.
A STATE LEADER
In recognition of the leading role the foundation has taken on the issue, Gov. Jon Corzine recently tapped Leisa-Anne Smith, the foundation's director of conflict resolutions programs, to serve on the 14-member New Jersey Commission on Bullying in Schools.
The commission will study and make recommendations about school bullying laws; examine the remedies and protections available to child victims; and evaluate funding and reporting of bullying. Its findings and recommendations, including new proposed legislation, will go to Gov. Corzine next summer.
Angela Scheck, executive director of the foundation, said Smith created the bullying programs as a natural outgrowth of the foundation's interest in violence-prevention education. "She realized it should be separate from our existing conflict resolution and peer mediation training," she said.
As for Smith, she considers bullying prevention a passion. "Bullying was an issue whose time had come. We believed, and still do believe, that the issue deserves and requires its own focus," said Smith.
FOCUS ON THE JOB
At the recent workshop, the prevalence of bullying at work came into stark focus. Workplace bullying affects about one in six workers directly, and has become an emerging issue in the United States, said Susie Cho, who moderated the event.
"The phenomenon of psychological violence in the workplace costs businesses billions of dollars in lower productivity, health issues, higher turnover, absenteeism, and workers' compensation liability," Cho said. "The time seems ripe for New Jersey to address this issue legallyŠ There is a need to increase awareness of the issue and what actions people can take." Pending legislation and recently decided cases have focused on various aspects of bullying in the workplace.
In addition to Smith, the participants included state Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, who sponsored the Healthy Workplace bill; Gary Namie, the director of the Workplace Bullying Institute in Bellingham, Washington; Ruth Namie, cofounder of the Campaign Against Workplace Bullying and New Brunswick lawyer John Kovac, who has handled workers' compensation cases. Organizers said they hoped people would come away with skills to handle bullying, especially in today's tight job market.
"Understanding what is happening and gaining skills to counter the bullying and its effects can save your health, your career, and even your life," said Cho.
