Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington

workplsce hostility/work environment

my question centers on a group of women in a nursing unit who are being targeted in the workplace by an ANM and a group of her friends (she is in a management position over them and socialzies/parties with them outside work) The harrassment is not sexual, but includes the ANM screaming at them, using the f-work to more than one, punitive assignments that in some cases the NM agreed should not have been done, taking those nurses off a role that requires advanced skills so they are unable to maintain them, the 'friends approaching the targeted group both in and out of work saying they'd'better watch themselves'; HR has been aproached with the formal complaints, and the response is that the targeted group are paranoid, and what they must do to not be so negative. A prior ANM who was forced to resign over abousive behavior was rehired and placed inna relief CN position where the behavior continues- also a friend to the day ANM. As a grievance offier this puts me in a bad position as we also represent the other nurses doing this, but this seems to be caused by improper manager-employee relationships. Behavior includes dissing the comptenciy of these senior nurses to MD's &staff. We're grieving, but is therer no other recourse?


Asked on 7/16/08, 12:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Cohen

Re: workplsce hostility/work environment

This does not sound like a situation of harassment, as the victims are likely not being harassed because of a protected status (age, gender, ethnicity, disability).

However, a trend is arising which attempts to curb 'bullying' in the workplace; the WA State HCR dept in fact has put forth a brochure found here:

http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Files/Bullying.pdf

and it gives some advice on how to handle this situation. It sounds like US law has not 'caught up' to this problem with causes of action within the courts.

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Answered on 7/18/08, 1:45 pm


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