McClinton, Policy Committee emphasize need for workplace safety
Psychological Safety Act would protect workers from abuse, bullying
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro August 14, 2024 | 11:40 AM
DARBY, Aug. 14 – Advocates, survivors and attorneys highlighted the prevalent existence of workplace bullying, and psychological abuse, that is a public health threat yet a reality for millions of exploited workers. PA House Speaker Joanna McClinton called for a House Majority Policy Committee hearing on the subject to raise awareness for the need of a Psychological Safety Act to protect workers in what researchers term a silent epidemic that is more prevalent than workplace sexual harassment.
A livestream of the House Majority Policy Committee hearing at Darby Borough Hall can be found here. Submitted testimony from the hearing can be found here.
“Everyone deserves to be safe at work – that means free from physical harm as well as mental or psychological abuse,” said McClinton, who represents portions of Delaware County and Philadelphia. “While there are laws on the books to protect workers from environmental hazards, we need to do more to protect people from workplace psychological hazards like bullying and oppressive treatment that create toxic work environments and cause undue stress and anxiety for workers.”
Currently, bullying, verbally berating and other attempts to intimidate coworkers or subordinates are not legally considered workplace abuse in Pennsylvania. An estimated one of every two U.S. workers is subjected to workplace bullying, affecting about 80 million U.S. workers a year.
“Workers subjected to bullying can often suffer from anxiety, depression and burnout,” said Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “There is a great human cost being paid by our workers, but there are also negative economic ramifications that could be corrected by passing the Workplace Psychological Safety Act. This law would help prevent the financial organizational costs of workplace bullying, which include higher turnover, reduced productivity and low morale.”
Puerto Rico is the sole location in the United States with legal protections against workplace psychological safety, even though workplace bullying rates have decreased in nations where laws are passed against workplace psychological abuse. Other states have noticed, however, and Rhode Island and Massachusetts have explored laws to protect workers from bullying.
Wednesday’s House Majority Policy hearing featured testimony from Lauren J. Footman, the CEO of Lauren J. Footman LLC; Michelle Warner, an attorney, certified executive coach and founder of MW Coaching and Consulting LLC; Dr. Stephanie N. Perry, the CEO of Crown Innovative Solutions and a workplace civility advocate; Kiana Michelle Jackson, an advocate for workplace safety; and Christopher Hallock, the Deputy Secretary of Safety and Management Relations at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The hearing also featured submitted written testimony from Debra Falzoi and Vicki Courtemanche, the cofounders of End Workplace Abuse.
Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found at pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee/Galleries.