Reform is needed on the employees protections against toxic and hostile work environment. Currently human resources and management are allowed to create toxic work environment utilizing predatory practices that can physically and mentally destroy their employees. Pushing employees to thrir mental and physical breaking point to try to get them to quit should also be protected against like the standard protective classes are currently. Employers should also have a responsibility to stop management and other employees from creating a hostile work environment even through bullying or other unsafe tactics.
This is where the free market needs to take the lead; we don’t need more regulations.
Im going to disagree as there is a systemic problem using and abusing employees. Should employees stand up set healthy boundaries the bullying and hostile work environment starts to try to push that employee out. Other employees should also not be abusive to coworkers. There are currently no protections in place unless a specific protected class is involved. Employers are not currently held accountable for maintaining a safe environment for employees and stopping the destruction of employees.
But why is it a government problem?
Currently there is no legislation that its wrong to treat your employees horribly unless it goes specifically against race gender nationality religion disabilities. They are allowed to use toxic manipulation to create or allow hostile work environments. Just one of many examples a coworker who is told by management to just leave them alone for a bit after the employee has been reported for screaming yelling and cussing at a coworker for doing their job. Because its just always been that way. The EEOC only steps in if you can prove it is against a protected class. I can think of many examples. There is no current legislation that allows investigation of hostile and or toxic to ones mental heath.
I don’t agree with those controls either—government doesn’t need to be involved in private business. If it’s an issue, maybe it’s worth the person considering leaving and/or pursuing entrepreneurship.
That does not solve the toxic behavior just forces it onto the next unsuspecting person. Hostile work environment does need to be investigated similarly to the protected classes like gender religion ect. If it doesn’t fall under those specific current classes then its ok to cause damage mentally to a person? Not only does it cause mental health damage but also results in physical conditions as well. Why should destructive behavior that creates hostile work environments be allowed? Those practices can cause it to become difficult for the employee to find another position. When it becomes predatory, employees should be able to have an option to stand up against it. Currently the well they can get a different job doesn’t solve the issue. Plus they should be held accountable for causing harm to another person. Doesn’t make it any more ok that the wounds are psychologically damaging intead of physical damage. It isnt just one time but systematic and repeated abuse. Everyone should have a safe environment to work in.
I don’t believe there should be “protected classes”—everyone has the same rights under the Constitution and Bill of Rights. In fact, I would support deregulating the current system to ensure equal treatment for all under the law.
If a business treats its employees poorly or fails to support them during tough times, it risks losing those employees. Some may leave to create better alternatives, becoming direct competition, or the company may be forced to improve once it earns a bad reputation. In a free market, businesses naturally face the consequences of their actions. When mistreated employees take responsibility for their choices and leave, better options can emerge organically. My point is that this isn’t an issue that requires external regulation or government intervention. This is simply my perspective, and I respect that others may disagree.
When i say protected class i mean it’s illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.
EEOC should also be able to investigate hostile work environments and discrimination.
Employers should be required to keep employee files and all records for the same amount of time as payroll/tax information is kept.
Employers should be required to provide the employee with any audio or video surveillance available when requested by the employee.
Employees should have a safe work environment not just physically but mentally as well.
If the free market is a solution to employees being stuck in toxic, hostile, and abusive work environments, why hasn’t that issue been solved already? Even during the times of the wild west when our markets were much more free, jobs weren’t exactly known for being safe and healthy for employees.