According to this March 25,2008 New York Times article (login required), the days of tolerating “bad boss” type behavior may be numbered. No states have passed laws against Workplace Bullying yet, but New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut already introduced bills outlawing workplace bullying. The Legislatures of New Jersey and Connecticut introduced bills outlawing workplace bullying, although neither passed or, in Conn’s case, was withdrawn under the pressure of business interests.

Even so, more successful efforts in other countries (notably in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Saskatchewan) suggests that it’s only a matter of time before bosses can be held accountable by law for their behavior

Choice quoters form the article

An eye roll, a glare, a dismissive snort — these are the tactics of the workplace bully. They don’t sound like much, but that’s why they are so insidious. How do you complain to human resources that your boss is picking on you? Who cares that a co-worker won’t return your phone calls?

Bullying in the workplace is surprisingly common. In a survey released last fall, 37 percent of American workers said they had experienced bullying on the job, according to the research firm Zogby International.

But the tide may be turning, thanks in part to a best-selling book by Robert I. Sutton, a management professor and co-director of the Center for Work, Technology and Organization at Stanford. Among other things, the book argues that workplace bullies are bad for business, because they lead to absenteeism and turnover.

Business groups often argue that existing laws are adequate to protect workers. But bullying generally does not involve race, age or sex, which have protected status in the courts.

Given the number of states whose legislatures passed bills requiring schools to curtail bullying, I'd say we're going to see a similar trend in the workplace over the next decade.

Business groups often argue that existing laws are adequate to protect workers. But bullying generally does not involve race, age or sex, which have protected status in the courts.

Workplace bullies know how to play the game. They go after co-workers in a way that would be harder to define and prove in court. They know what they're doing. I've experienced it, and the trauma has kept me out of the workplace.

Eye rolling? Not returning phone calls? Good grief. Are we becoming a country of wimps?

Eye rolling, a glare, a dismissive snort- 99.9% of the people I have known in my life are bullies and have be picking on me and I didn't even know it. My wife has been giving me "THE LOOK" (married guys know what I mean) and she's not a bully, she's a sweety.

LW, I'm very sorry to hear that. Yeah, they often have friends in high places and/or a group of admirers.

James, Bubba, I don't think they're talking about the occasional squabble or or eye-roll. I take it to mean a consistent, systematic pattern of such, plus more (yelling and berating coworkers or employees, and yes, CONSTANT nitpicking and criticism, plus being shut out from important information, and so forth). As for the wimps part, James, how does that behavior improve employee morale? Seems to me that that's a recipe for high staff turnover, sick leave, and absenteeism.

There is a car dealer owner here in Jackson, that motivational speeches consisted of take all the salesmen to meeting room and screaming and cussing at the top of his lungs, how sorry we were and how we were losers who could sell anything. That last about 5 minutes and I got up and walked out. Never even went back and cleaned out my desk. It was either leave or b%$#h slap him.

Bullying is awful at all levels. However there are levels of crudeness or levels of competence that depend the job. Almost all places I have worked at all levels from the manual labor to the need an advance degree because it is academia, there is bullying or competition. There is always competition and in almost all cases jealousy and attacks based on factions.

In grad school I was given a low grade because I was a student of a rival professor. She gave me a C and critiqued the data set. I showed her it being published (5 days after getting the C) and she said "shoot for a higher journal" (I did respond that she had never been published by any recognized journal and the article was latter published in a journal she mentioned, but I digress)

Bullies lie every where. If you are in an environment where your skill does not matter leave. If your skill is important to the company you can oust any competitor.

I have been accepted as skillful in my profession, as well as a "non skilled" position where I sorted on a factor floor and also where I waited tables. While waiting tables after a few weeks the owner and kitchen manager said "He works hard, makes money and helps out... yes he gets exceptions.."after people bitched I got forgiven for minor infractions. Granted I picked up double shifts, cooked while waiting tables to get the food out, and ran other peoples food to keep things moving and not allow a backlash to happen. (Of course the kitchen rewarded me for busting my tail to help them. If it was my ticket.... It was always right and usually ahead of any others...)

If you are truly good and not appreciated.... leave. There is a place for you.

AGamma627