Bullying Bosses Can Worsen Workplace Safety
Everyone experiences job stress at some point. But a new study shows bullying from a boss can put you —and everyone you work with — at a greater risk of workplace injury.
A survey of airline workers and manufacturing technicians found that those who experienced mental or verbal abuse from superiors were more likely to neglect safety practices without realizing it, according to researchers at Portland State University.
The reason: Bullying made workers feel isolated from their work peers, leaving them more likely to remain focused on themselves and less on the safety of the group as a whole.
In Tennessee, workers who are harassed or intimidated by their employers may have the right to seek compensation. If you’ve been bullied at work, a knowledgeable Nashville employment attorney at the Employment and Commerce Law Group can explain your legal options and guide you through the process to obtain relief.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation today.
Stress and Job Accidents
The American Psychological Association has found that stress is responsible for as many as 80 percent of all workplace accidents. Feeling underappreciated and overwhelmed can increase anxiety, making it difficult for workers to concentrate on their tasks and exercise caution when they need to.
In addition, the Workplace Bullying Institute found that more than one-third of American workers have either been bullied or a witness to bullying at work. Just like the victims of the bullying, the witnesses are similarly distracted, making the work environment even more dangerous.
Tennessee Workplace Harassment Laws
Tennessee has laws that protect employees from harassment and discrimination. Employers who create a hostile work environment through their actions, innuendoes, or other behaviors are in violation of the law and can be held accountable for their actions.
Examples of harassment include:
- Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, religion, disability, or other protected category
- Derogatory verbal or electronic comments about an employee’s performance
- Demeaning comments about a worker’s race, religion, or personal preferences
- Unwelcome touching or near touching
- Threats and other aggressive behaviors
- Using stereotypes to make decisions regarding an employee’s career
If you have been subjected to these types of actions at work and it is causing you physical or emotional harm, you have the right to take action. You can file a report through your employer’s human resources department and/or the Tennessee Department of Human Resources’ Offices of General Counsel (EEO Division), or contact an experienced workplace harassment attorney.
How Can the Employment and Commerce Law Group Help?
If you’ve been bullied on the job, there’s no question that you’re under stress. The skilled Nashville harassment attorneys at the Employment and Commerce Law Group can discuss your legal options in a free consultation.
Our lawyers can help you file a harassment report with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and any other state agency if you haven’t done so already, which is required before you can file a harassment lawsuit against the offending party.
To learn more about how we can help, call or contact us today.
