Mirroring legislative and regulatory measures in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, U.S. State have begun to consider legislation to address “workplace bullying.”

According to a 2007 poll released by the Employment Law Alliance (“ELA”), 44% of American workers feel they have worked for a supervisor or employer whom they considered abusive. The poll, which was conducted by the Philadelphia-based Reed Group, and surveyed 1,000 workers, also indicates that:

• 55% reported being yelled at by a boss or witnessed a boss yelling at a co-worker;
• 50% were personally insulted or witnessed a boss personally insult co-workers,
• 45% were demeaned or embarrassed in person or over e-mail or witnessed a co-worker being demeaned or embarrassed by a boss in person or over e-mail;
• 40% were the target of rumor-spreading or the sharing of confidential information or witnessed such behavior,
• 17% endured or witnessed inappropriate physical contact, and
• 11% were physically threatened or witnessed a physical threat made against a co-worker.

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