Maybe not all cases of workplace bullying should be punished this severely, but particularly heinous acts should result in something more than fines. The possibility of jail time might act as a deterrent to bullying, so there is that argument. I know I would love to see people held accountable for their bullying behavior and the punishment should always fit the crime. Please – read on….
MELBOURNE — Australian workers who bully their colleagues could be jailed for up to a decade under proposed new laws following the suicide of a cafe worker, a minister said Tuesday.
Victorian Attorney General Robert Clark said he would introduce legislation into the state’s parliament to make clear that serious bullying was a crime punishable by up to 10 years behind bars.
“There should be no doubt that serious bullying is a serious crime which should carry a serious jail term,” Clark said in a statement.
The proposed changes would mean the kind of abuse endured by 19-year-old Brodie Panlock, who killed herself in 2006 after months of mental and physical bullying at her workplace, would result in a jail term, Clark added.
Continued at: AFP: Australian workplace bullies face 10 years jail.
Thanks to Cheryl Painter for sharing this article. Gives a very pointed look at hatred and how it applies to workplace bullying.
Let Their Words Do the Talking
Verbal Cues to Detect Deception
by John R. “Jack” Schafer, Ph.D. Published on March 18, 2011
The Seven-Stage Hate Model – The Psychopathology of Hate
Not all insecure people are haters, but all haters are insecure people.
Hate masks personal insecurities. Not all insecure people are haters, but all haters are insecure people. Hate elevates the hater above the hated. Haters cannot stop hating without exposing their personal insecurities. Haters can only stop hating when they face their insecurities.
Stage 1: The Haters Gather
Haters rarely hate alone. They feel compelled, almost driven, to entreat others to hate as they do. Peer validation bolsters a sense of self-worth and, at the same time, prevents introspection, which reveals personal insecurities. Individuals who are otherwise ineffective become empowered when they join groups, which also provide anonymity and diminished accountability.
Stage 2: The Hate Group Defines Itself
Hate groups form identities through symbols, rituals, and mythologies, which enhance the members’ status and, at the same time, degrade the object of their hate. For example, skinhead groups may adopt the swastika, the iron cross, the Confederate flag, and other supremacist symbols. Group-specific symbols or clothing often differentiate hate groups. Group rituals, such as hand signals and secret greetings, further fortify members. Hate groups, especially skinhead groups, usually incorporate some form of self-sacrifice, which allows haters to willingly jeopardize their well-being for the greater good of the cause. Giving one’s life to a cause provides the ultimate sense of value and worth to life.
Continued @ The Seven-Stage Hate Model: The Psychopathology of Hate | Psychology Today.
By Melissa C. Martin | February 23, 2011
CBC radio broadcasted a segment in late November regarding harassment and bullying in the workplace. Host Anna Maria Tremonti interviewed individuals and revealed some details about a recent study in the US:
According to the Workplace Institute in Washington, 13% of Americans are being bullied; 24% have been in the past and 14% have only witnessed an event or events. The study concluded that 54 million Americans have been affected by this damaging issue in the workplace. It’s believed 5 million Canadians are affected by bullying or harassment.
As a certified harassment advisor, one who works on a (potential) harassment case, and a career coach with certification in solution-focused counseling, here is what to do to alleviate harassment or bullying in the workplace:
There is a lot of good information in this video. It reinforces what those of us who are “veterans” of this bully war know and it is good to hear for the new people that are coming into this wicked behavior.
In the past, people considered physical aggressiveness as bullying. Being a form of violence, it was easy to distinguish. Every physical act that was meant to hurt someone else physically was violence and therefore an act of bullying. However, the modern definition of bullying is much broader, so that made many people think there is a lot more bullying today, when in fact, it was here all along, but it was much more acceptable.
For example, name calling and exclusion of people based on their gender, race or disability were very common parts of daily life 40 years ago. I remember myself being intimidated by name calling as a kid. I was bullied and a bully myself. I was made fun of constantly for my skin color or ethnic affiliation and I joined others in making fun of others for other reasons.
I do not think we have more bullying nowadays. I think the level of bullying is similar to what it was in the past, we just pay attention to it more now and are more willing to address it and create an accepting, tolerant and happy society.
People use different forms of bullying to threaten, intimidate and create emotional pain. Here is a list of behaviors that are considered bullying. As I read each one of them, I saw only one form that was new and was not there 40 years ago. Other than that, we had them all and in some respects even worse.
Continued @ Bullying 4: Forms of Bullying – Family Matters — Parenting Blog.
Let’s hear it for the worst of the bad – give them a nice round of jeers!
In the first ever contest of its kind, a panel of workplace experts assembled by eBossWatch selected and ranked the 25 Worst Bosses of 2009 who made headlines across the country.
The Worst Bosses of 2009 include several restaurant managers, a coroner, the former NASA inspector general, an NFL head coach, and a candidate running for US Congress.
The eBossWatch highly regarded panel of workplace experts include:
- Dr. Gary Namie, founder & president of the Workplace Bullying Institute and author of “The Bully at Work”
- Dr. Christine Pearson, professor of management at Thunderbird, The School of Global Management and co-author of “The Cost of Bad Behavior: How Incivility is Damaging Your Business and What to Do About It”
- Kevin Kennemer, board member of the Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium and founder of The People Group
- Erica Pinsky, workplace consultant and author of “Road to Respect: Path to Profit“
Continued at: The eBossWatch Worst Bosses of 2009.
I think all who have been bullied need to remember that they have rights. It is time to make a stand and defend those rights.
Unicef project in hundreds of UK schools helps to foster calmer classrooms and a reduction in bullying and truancy
Jeevan Vasagar
The Guardian | Tuesday 2 November 2010Teaching children about their human rights can reduce bullying and exclusions, improve relations with teachers and create a calmer atmosphere for learning, according to an academic study published today.
A Unicef UK project running in more than 1,000 schools across Britain teaches pupils about their rights and responsibilities, and encourages them to draw up charters for classroom behaviour.
The first evaluation of the project since its launch in 2004 has found that its introduction was accompanied by a fall in truancy and an improvement in results at schools with a high proportion of children on free school meals.
The evidence is highlighted in a three-year study of the Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA), undertaken by researchers at the universities of Sussex and Brighton.
In a study of 31 schools, researchers found that there was “little or no shouting” and that conflicts between pupils escalated far less frequently than they had done before the schools adopted the new approach. Fixed-term exclusions decreased in 13 schools, stabilised in three, and five reported no exclusions, the study says.
Pupils increasingly took part in making decisions, ranging from debates about the state of the playground to discussions on staff appointments. In some schools, pupils showed candidates for teaching jobs around the school and identified questions they wanted to ask.
Pupils also gave feedback after candidates for teaching jobs gave sample lessons.
Continued at: Human rights teaching reduces bullying, study finds | Education | The Guardian.
By Ben Leichtling | November 3, 2010
Many types of family bullying are obvious, whether it’s physical or verbal harassment, nastiness or abuse, and targets or witnesses usually jump in to stop it. The typical perpetrators are mothers and fathers bullying each other or the kids, sibling bullies, bullying step-parents or kids sneakily bullying a step-parent in order to drive a wedge between a biological parent and their new partner.
But many people allow extended family members to abuse their children or their spouses, especially at the holidays, because they’re afraid that protest will split the family into warring factions that will never be healed. They’re afraid they’ll be blamed for destroying family unity or they accept a social code that proclaims some image of “family” as the most important value.
Except in a few, rare situations, that’s a big mistake.
A rare exception might be an aged, senile and demented, or a dying family member whose behavior is tolerated temporarily while the children are protected from the abuse.
But a more typical example of what shouldn’t be tolerated was a grandpa who had a vicious tongue, especially when he drank. He angrily told the grandchildren they were weak, selfish and dumb. He ripped them down for every fault – too smart, too stupid; too fat, too skinny; too short, too tall; too pretty, too ugly; too demanding, too shy. He also focused on fatal character flaws; born lazy, born failure, born evil, born unwanted.
For good measure, he verbally assaulted his own children and their spouses – except for the favorite ones. He even did this around the Thanksgiving and Christmas tables when the parents and their spouses were present. He was always righteous and right.
Imagine that you see the fear, stress, anxiety and pain on your children’s faces and on your spouse’s face; you feel the pain and anger in your own heart. You hate being there; you hate exposing your family to the negativity and abuse. The rest of the adults try to shrug it off saying, “It’s only dad. He really does love us. His life has been hard.” Or they insist, “Don’t upset the family, don’t force us to choose sides, family comes first.”
What can you do?
Read More: Stop Bullying at Extended Family Holidays.
Bullying is a civil rights violation as well as a health and safety hazard. It is psychological and can be physical assault. Maybe it should be treated as such!
FYI – Most of the comments related to this article on the Herald Sun web site were anti-Brumby I choose not to get into the Aussie’s political issues. I’d rather focus on the workplace bullying issue on the whole.
Stephen McMahon | Herald Sun | November 01, 2010
TOUGH new laws for workplace bullies – including jail terms – will be investigated if the Brumby Government retains power.
Brodie Panlock
The push to introduce harsher regulations was sparked by the tragic death of 19-year-old waitress Brodie Panlock, whose tormenters couldn’t be jailed and were only able to be fined.The Panlock family have welcomed the move and support the introduction of stronger penalties for Victorians found guilty of workplace bullying. Premier John Brumby said the review to be undertaken by the Victorian Law Reform Commission was vital to make sure the rights of the victims were protected.
Read more: Jail for work bullies under Brumby Government plan | Herald Sun.
Workplace Bullying Institute Minding the Workplace Bully Free At Work Coping With a Toxic Boss
Stop Workplace Bullies...Now! 