I want to share with you excerpts from a letter I received from Katherine Hermes (pictured at right), a faculty member at Central Connecticut State University.
Katherine writes:
"Annie Le, a Yale graduate student who worked in a lab, was the co-worker of her alleged killer, Ray Clark. Clark reportedly sent emails to her berating her for her lack of proper protocol concerning the lab's mice. Workplace bullies inflict this kind of petty tyranny upon targets every day. It is not every day that they murder their targets, as Ray Clark is charged with doing. ( newsday.com)
" Newsnet5.com recently reported a former college athlete in Connecticut has alleged that his coach made him drink blood in front of teammates. While there are racial overtones to this incident, it is also an instance of bullying. Like Annie Le, the student athlete hovers between "school" (bullying is banned by law in Connecticut schools from K through 12) and work (there are no workplace bullying laws).
"In that college/work space, the opportunities for bullying are rife. So much depends on one's performance and compliance, from scholarships to housing to careers, that targets are naturally reluctant to speak out."
Thank you, Katherine for that succinct description of the difficulties inherent in workplace bullying.
In Connecticut, graduate student workers or student athletes who have been bullied are encouraged to write to their state legislators, asking them to include in the Healthy Workplace Bill provisions for protecting those who are also the employees of their colleges or are holding some sort of contract for services rendered.
Most other states do not have this option as there is no Healthy Workplace Bill. However, the Workplace Bullying Institute is working toward passage of a Healthy Workplace Bill in every state.
Research done by the Workplace Bullying Institute and Zogby polls reveal 37% of the American workforce has experienced bullying at some time. Please join the Workplace Bullying Institute in work toward passing the bill in your state.
Katherine writes:
"Annie Le, a Yale graduate student who worked in a lab, was the co-worker of her alleged killer, Ray Clark. Clark reportedly sent emails to her berating her for her lack of proper protocol concerning the lab's mice. Workplace bullies inflict this kind of petty tyranny upon targets every day. It is not every day that they murder their targets, as Ray Clark is charged with doing. ( newsday.com)
" Newsnet5.com recently reported a former college athlete in Connecticut has alleged that his coach made him drink blood in front of teammates. While there are racial overtones to this incident, it is also an instance of bullying. Like Annie Le, the student athlete hovers between "school" (bullying is banned by law in Connecticut schools from K through 12) and work (there are no workplace bullying laws).
"In that college/work space, the opportunities for bullying are rife. So much depends on one's performance and compliance, from scholarships to housing to careers, that targets are naturally reluctant to speak out."
Thank you, Katherine for that succinct description of the difficulties inherent in workplace bullying.
In Connecticut, graduate student workers or student athletes who have been bullied are encouraged to write to their state legislators, asking them to include in the Healthy Workplace Bill provisions for protecting those who are also the employees of their colleges or are holding some sort of contract for services rendered.
Most other states do not have this option as there is no Healthy Workplace Bill. However, the Workplace Bullying Institute is working toward passage of a Healthy Workplace Bill in every state.
Research done by the Workplace Bullying Institute and Zogby polls reveal 37% of the American workforce has experienced bullying at some time. Please join the Workplace Bullying Institute in work toward passing the bill in your state.
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Thank you for writing about this.
ReplyDeleteI am of Vietnamese heritage. Annie Le's tragic outcome just illustrates what we struggle with on ongoing basis. And it's all legal.
I'm embarking on writing my story so that this issue receives proper attention in our efforts toward achieving the American ideals -- the very principles that caused me to be an immigrant in America in the first place!
My contact: atlepe.mtoc@gmail.com
Thank You for what you do!
ATL