NYHWA 2007-2008 Legislation

A10291

The Healthy Workplace Bill

While in Albany on February 4 & 5, NYHWA had a meeting scheduled with Assemblyman Englebright and found out that his daughter had experienced workplace bullying at the hand of a former employer of hers.  The Assemblyman mentioned how he saw her health change through the psyhcological violence the bully was utilizing and that that she could not find recourse through any person, entity or employer protocols to stop these actions.  NYHWA thanks Assemblyman Englebright and Assemblyman Barra for the courageous stand they are taking on behalf of all employed New Yorkers to provide employers and employees alike to resolve these workplace violence situations before damages are incurred by both parties.

A7801A

While in Albany on February 4 & 5, we NYHWA graciously asked Assemblyman Bob Barra (R) if he would be willing to transfer A7801A to a Democrat in the Assembly to allow the Bill to move through its paces.  Assemblyman Barra was very willing to do this and NYHWA mentioned that we had met several Assemblymembers on both days who had significant interest in the Bill.  The Bill was struck down on February 14, 2008 and reintroduced by Assemblyman Englebright on March 17, 2008.  NYHWA cannot thank Assemblyman Bob Barra enough for the stand he took on behalf of the 1.4 million employed New Yorkers who experience workplace bullying on a regular basis.  His actions have and will one day provide a healthier, safer and more productive workplace for all employers and employees.  NYHWA fully understands that this form of workplace violence works against both the employer and employee and the Healthy Workplace Bill achieves that balance. 

On April 25, 2007, Assemblyman Barra introduced Bill A7801 that would help an employer address workplace bullying.   After NYHWA assessed the Bill, It was clear the legislation would allow frivilious law suits to be filed against an employer and Tom Witt, NYHWA's Downstate Coordinator encouraged him to amend the Bill to prevent this from being possible.  On June 13, Assemblyman Barra did amend the Bill and is the one NYHWA will stand behind.

This Bill came from the lobbying effort NYHWA undertook in March 2007 when we met with nearly 20 legislators and stopped by the offices of dozens of others to drop off information about Psychologcial Violence in the Workplace.  From that lobbying effort and Tom's conversation with Assemblyman Barra, we found out that the Bill was the result of the a number of Republican legislators who saw the harm this violence does to the bottom line of an employer and saw it was one that needed to be address. 

NYHWA would like to thank Assemblyman Barra and his Republican counterparts for their understanding of the situation and their encouragement to address the situation.

On February 8, 2007 Assemblymember Marc A. Schroeder and Senator William Stachowski sponsored Bills A04921 and S2715 respectively.  NYHWA would like to thank the primary sponsors and co-sponsors:  Senators Mary Lou Rath, Dale Volker and Diane J. Savino for taking a stand for the estimated 1.4 million New York employees who experience Psychological Violence in the Workplace on a regular basis.

Please take a moment to thank the primary and co-sponsors for supporting these bills.