New Employment Law Alliance Poll Found Nearly 45% Of U.S. Workers Say They've Worked For An Abusive Boss
3/21/2007
64% Say Bullied Workers Should Be Able to Fight Back in Court
INDIANAPOLIS (March 21, 2007) - The grade school bully may have grown up to become the office oppressor, according to a new nationwide poll by the Employment Law Alliance (ELA) released today. The report found that nearly 45% of American workers say they have experienced workplace abuse.
Michael Blickman, Ice Miller LLP partner, said, "The scope of the problem of abusive bosses should be a wake-up call for employers interested in protecting their employees and the integrity of their institution. Typically, abusive bosses breed a culture of fear, disloyalty, and discontent. Employers should identify problem managers and make sure they receive appropriate training and corrective action. If the problem goes uncorrected, an employer needs to seriously question whether it should even continue the individual's employment." Ice Miller LLP is a member of the ELA, the largest international network of employment and labor attorneys.
Blickman said, "Indiana courts are on the cutting edge of considering this issue. In December, 2006, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected the idea that there is a legal claim for workplace bullying. This was a landmark case for Indiana and indicates that Indiana courts are not likely to recognize a separate cause of action for workplace bullying. On the other hand, individuals who feel they are victims of bullying may still have other claims at their disposal. Causes of action such as assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress can still be brought in appropriate cases."
Stephen J. Hirschfeld, ELA’S CEO and an employment lawyer with the California-based law firm of Curiale Dellaverson Hirschfeld & Kraemer, LLP, said the poll results reflect a growing recognition that abusive bosses are more than just an annoyance, but a very real problem and that employees will increasingly demand protection, if not from employers then the courts.
The poll addressed abusive behavior by supervisors not typically regarded as serious enough to warrant special legal protections afforded to racial, religious, or gender discrimination, commented Hirschfeld. “But when almost one half of the workers surveyed say they have personally been the victim of, seen or heard about some form of abusive behavior by bosses, such as being rudely interrupted or taunted about job performance in front of co-workers, it is not surprising that 64% say there should be specific legal recourse for the victims,” said Hirschfeld.
In reacting to the poll results, Dr. Sutton, Professor of Management Science and Engineering, and Co-Director of the Center for Work, Technology, and Organization said, “This national survey adds to the growing mountain of evidence showing that abuse of power is a rampant problem in the American workplace. It is time for senior management to realize that this conduct damages their people and is costing them a fortune. Demeaned workers respond with a reduced commitment and loss of productivity, and they run for the exits to find more humane bosses. And these costs will keep escalating as more victims realize that they can fight back in court.”
Hirschfeld said that an aware employer is a prepared employer when it comes to focusing on preventing incidents and avoiding costly litigation. "Only an employer in a state of denial would ignore the poll results and not re-examine their personnel policies, supervisor-employee relations and management training,” he said.
The poll, conducted under the supervision of Dr. Theodore Reed, President of the Philadelphia-based Reed Group, was based on a survey of a representative sample of 1,000 American adults within the past two weeks. Detailed interviews were conducted with 534 full or part time workers. The confidence interval for this sample size is +/- 4.24%.
Complete poll results are posted on the ELA website, www.employmentlawalliance.com . Highlights of the poll include:
· 44% said they have worked for a supervisor or employer who they consider abusive.
· More than half of American workers have been the victim of, or heard about supervisors/employers behaving abusively by making sarcastic jokes/teasing remarks, rudely interrupting, publicly criticizing, giving dirty looks to, or yelling at subordinates, or ignoring them as if they were invisible.
· 64% said that they believe an abused worker should have the right to sue to recover damages
· Southern workers (34%) are less likely to have experience with an abusive boss than are their Northeastern (56%) and Midwestern (48%) counterparts.
The Employment Law Alliance is the world’s largest integrated, global practice network comprised of independent law firms recognized for their practice in employment and labor law. There are member firms in all 50 U.S. states, every Canadian province and over 75 countries. For further information, including access to the survey charts and graphs, visit www.employmentlawalliance.com.
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This press release is intended for general information purposes only and does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. The reader must consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to the reader's specific circumstances.
Media Contact:
Joy Fischer
Ice Miller LLP
317-236-2489
joy.fischer@icemiller.com
