Sessions
Concurrent Session
Equal Opportunity Bullying: How Even Legal Behavior Puts Your Organization at Risk
Mount Vernon Square
Monday 03/13/2017 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
1.50 SHRM PDCs
| Competencies: HR Expertise, Business Acumen
| Intended Audience: Mid-Level
Workplace Application:
Learn how to take a proactive approach to mitigating risk by identifying problematic bullying behavior in your workplace.
It is commonly believed that supervisors can harass employees without legal ramifications provided the bullying is not related to a target’s protected class; someone exhibiting this behavior is called an “equal opportunity bully.” This session will describe how even legal behaviors can result in claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, discrimination and unlawful retaliation. Organizations that ignore bullying may also experience excessive absenteeism or additional workers' compensation, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act claims. You will:
- Recognize the common traits and behaviors of the “equal opportunity bully.”
- Identify the possible legal ramifications of ignoring workplace bullying.
- Categorize the repercussions of workplace bullying behavior.
- Identify strategies and tools that will mitigate the risk that workplace bullies pose to organizations.
