NO BULLIES ALLOWED Protecting Your Positive Work Culture
NO BULLIES ALLOWED! Protecting Your Positive Work Culture Trent Scofield 205. 250. 8376 tscofield@bakerdonelson. com www. bakerdonelson. com
Who Am I? Why Am I Here? www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 2
What is Workplace Bullying? • Repeated verbal abuse: derogatory remarks, insults and epithets • Any conduct that threatens, intimidates, or humiliates • Sabotage / undermining someone’s work performance • Would a reasonable person feel abused? www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 3
“Work Shouldn’t Hurt” • Workplace Bullying Institute: 2017 National Survey • Estimated 60. 3 million U. S. employees affected − 19 percent of employees feel they have been bullied. − 19 percent of employees have witnessed bullying occur. www. workplacebullying. org www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 4
Real-Life Consequences www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 5
Real-Life Consequences www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 6
TN Healthy Workplace Act: Fast Facts • Enacted June 2014. Now Amended: Private Employers • Legal incentive to adopt an anti-bullying policy • No liability for “mental anguish” claims when the policy: − recognizes and responds to abusive conduct − prevents retaliation against those who complain www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 7
Model Anti-Bullying Policy • TACIR’s Model Policy Components: − Responsibilities & Prohibited Conduct − Complaint & Prompt Investigation Procedure − No Retaliation / Conditional Confidentiality − Encouraged Training for Workforce and Managers www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 8
Policy Considerations • The protections of a healthy workplace is purposefully broad. • Focus on the conduct, not what motivated it. www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 9
Resources and Suggestions • TACIR’s Model Policy available here • Review existing anti-harassment policies • Add or amend as appropriate for your workplace • Take ownership: communicate, publish & train www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 10
Additional Thoughts • What about coaching, counseling & discipline? • What about work assignments & differences of opinion? www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 11
In Other News… Image Source: https: //www. tennessean. com/story/money/2019/01/14/volkswagen-electric-car-chattanooga-plant/2565780002/ www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 12
Food for Thought • What’s your Union IQ? • What about your employees / associates / team members? www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 13
Modern Organizing Techniques • THIS IS IMPORTANT • Communication platforms have never been faster. • “One Bad Day and Two Clicks Away” www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 14
Common Symptoms: 1 of 3 www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 15
Common Symptoms: 2 of 3 www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 16
Common Symptoms: 3 of 3 www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 17
A Few Helpful Suggestions www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 18
Evaluate Your Culture www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 19
Make the Necessary Changes Image Source: https: //www. changingworld. com/pub/media/catalog/product/cache/c 687 aa 7517 cf 01 e 65 c 009 f 6943 c 2 b 1 e 9/c/p/cp-10211_1. jpg www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 20
Train Your Supervisors Image Source: https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima#/media/File: Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima, _larger_-_edit 1. jpg www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 21
Keep Your Workforce Informed www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 22
Make a Rapid Response Plan • IF it happens, an immediate and coordinated response is required. • Legal; internal communications team; external spokesperson www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 23
Bottom Line • Labor and Employment challenges occur and sometimes escalate. • Proactive employers who focus on fundamentals substantially reduce liability risks. www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 24
Questions? www. bakerdonelson. com © 2019 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC 25
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