March 2007

Nearly 45% of U.S. workers say they've
had an abusive boss

A nationwide poll by the Employment Law Alliance (ELA) found that nearly 45 percent of American workers say they have experienced workplace abuse.

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. 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.

“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 percent say there should be specific legal recourse for the victims,” he said.

He noted that the survey comes at a time when nearly one dozen state legislatures are considering laws to specifically prohibit bullying in the workplace.

Complete poll results are posted on ELA’s Web site, www.employmentlawalliance.com.

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: