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Workplace Bullying In New Jersey
It's time to take a stand and fight back against bullies at your job
According to a study performed by CareerBuilder, nearly one-third of American workers have been bullied on the job. What’s even worse is that roughly 20% of the workforce has left a job because of workplace bullying. If you have been bullied at work, what’s the line between teasing and actual illegal harassment? If you have been harassed at work and your employer did nothing to stop it, you may be entitled to compensation.
Let the law firm of Aiello Harris Abate, Law Group PC help guide you through the legal process if you have been harassed on the job. We can help you define the line between bullying and harassment.
The definition of workplace bullying
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to bullying. What is entirely acceptable for one individual may be morally reprehensible to another. Our New Jersey employment lawyers at Aiello, Harris, Abate Law Group PC recognize that every situation is different, and we work to formulate an individualized solution to your problem.
According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, workplace bullying includes abusive behavior which:
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- Threatens or intimidates another person
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- Is verbally abusive to a colleague
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- Prevents or interferes with a co-worker’s or subordinate’s work performance
Generally, bullying on the job is a pattern of misbehavior, not a one-off incident. Bullies may escalate their behavior over time. If you believe you have been the subject of harassment, report the conduct to a Human Resources representative immediately.
Examples of workplace bullying
Some specific situations which may be considered bullying at work include:
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- Being the subject of gossip
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- Being purposely excluded from meetings or projects
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- Being falsely accused of mistakes
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- Being harassed due to sex, race, physical appearance, or other characteristics
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- Being unfairly criticized
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- Being sent belittling or cruel emails
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- Being attacked for personal appearance
The spectrum is very broad in workplace bullying cases. Only an attorney can tell you if the behavior is illegal.
Bullying and the Law Against Discrimination
“Bullying” at work is technically not illegal. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Law does not apply to situations involving just adults. However, under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), you may have a claim for workplace harassment if the bullying you endured was based on a protected trait. This means you were bullied due to your:
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- Color
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- Nationality
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- Ancestry
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- Marital status
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- Domestic partnership or civil union status
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- Atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait
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- Genetic information
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- Perceived disability
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- AIDS and HIV status
To be legally actionable in New Jersey and New York, workplace harassment also has to be “severe” or “pervasive.”
So, unless a one-time incident was particularly egregious, generally the harassment must have occurred over a period of time.
Under the law, a hostile work environment is one that threatens or intimidates a person and interferes with their work. It is created by abusive behavior towards an employee or group of employees. If you have been subjected to a hostile work environment due to bullying, talk to an NJ employment lawyer to learn about your rights.
Contact us today
If a co-worker’s inappropriate behavior drastically affects your professional and personal life, contact Aiello Harris Abate, Law Group PC immediately. Our New Jersey harassment attorneys are waiting to take your call.
Call us today at (908) 561-5577 or contact us. Your initial consultation will take place over the phone, and you can schedule an appointment at one of our office locations across New Jersey.
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