In an article published on August 24, 2018 at Modern Restaurant Management, Alicia Koepke brings attention to the reality of workplace bullying and harassment, as well as the potential implications this type of conduct may have on restaurants and other employers. “Many people use the terms ‘harassment’ and ‘bullying’ interchangeably to describe behavior that is physically or emotionally harmful or threatening, and often imposed by someone with real or perceived power over the victim,” Koepke notes. While there is no federal law prohibiting general workplace bullying, abusive behavior may constitute unlawful harassment (and discrimination) when it is imposed against a characteristic protected by law if:
- The behavior creates a hostile work environment;
- Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for an employment action; or,
- Submission to the conduct is made a term or condition of employment.
To help employers better ensure a safe workplace and mitigate liability for harassment, Koepke outlines important guidance to be followed, including how to recognize abusive behavior and harassment under the law, steps to prevent future abuse and appropriate responses when a claim is made.
For the full article, please click here.
