Why New York Needs to Pass the Healthy Workplace Bill

The New York State assembly is considering the Healthy Workplace Bill. It would allow employees to collect damages when bullied by a boss or faced with a hostile workplace.

Typically there is no protection if you are bullied in the workplace unless you suffer a civil rights violation. Bully bosses get away with unacceptable behavior that isn't a specific violation of employee civil rights. The Healthy Workplace Bill addresses this problem.

When I was attending my freshman year of college, I landed a part-time job at a telemarketing office. A middle-aged woman interviewed me for the position. It was the first time I was offered a job on the spot so I accepted immediately.

I started the next night and met my boss for the first time. He was tall, overweight and about fifty years old. His booming voice filled the room.

The workers looked browbeaten, heads buried in the phones in front of them. The boss bellowed at me about sales charts, scripts and how many hourly calls I had to make. He put me on the phone after five minutes of training.

I landed a lead right away. My co-workers looked up in fear when the boss placed my name on the chart. He yelled at everyone, asking if they were idiots. If a newbie could do it, why couldn't they?

The boss yelled into the ear of an unsuspecting employee, shouting to get with the program if he wanted to keep his job.

I continued to smile and dial as told. It was difficult with all the yelling in the background. Some folks hung up, thinking I was a very strange stranger.

I dreaded getting leads because my boss would abuse everyone. I also didn't want to face the boss' unrelenting wrath if I got no leads.

The hiring supervisor seemed blissfully unaware of the employees' discomfort. When the boss yelled, she smiled. Once he pinched her rear end when she bent to do filing. We all pretended not to notice.

I worked for another two days while the boss yelled at insults such as marble-mouthed morons and pansies. He told one older woman she should wear makeup before going out in public. The staff was belittled for four hours straight every night.

On the fourth night, the supervisor privately told me the boss thought I was a talented telemarketer. If I was friendly like her, I would get better leads. I let her know I wasn't interested.

The boss entered late, glaring at me. I had two leads but he didn't seem to notice. He yelled that I wasn't making enough phone calls per hour. I had not put the phone down since I entered.

He continued to stomp around the room, telling everyone how dumb, untalented and unemployable they were. I was now included in his tyrannical tirade.

The fifth night was payday. I decided to accept my paycheck then quit with no reason, even when pressed. I tried to forget I worked there. I never used the job as a reference or reported the incidents.

I did share the experience with a few college friends. They knew the place and said they exploited college workers to get the most for less. They rarely paid commissions and abused employees to force them to quit before getting full payment.

If NY passes the Healthy Workplace Bill into law, workers who prove they were subjected to hostile conduct could be awarded lost wages, punitive damages, compensation for emotional distress and medical expenses.

Hostile conduct can include work sabotage, verbal abuse and threats. My former boss would certainly be forced to face reality if such a law existed.

Since 2003, seventeen states introduced the Healthy Workplace Bill. As a worldwide industry leader, New York employs people in all sectors. The Healthy Workplace Bill would ensure a safer, more productive environment for everyone.