Anti-Bullying Laws in California

Anti-bullying laws have been a widely discussed and debated topic over the last few years due to the rise in suicides as a direct result of bullying or cyberbullying. Getting the laws up to the current need, especially regarding cases involving harassment over social media, is a constant battle.

The California anti-bullying laws and regulations include protection for the discrimination against:

• Nationality
• Religion
• Race/Ethnicity
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender
• Gender Identity
• Gender Expression
• Physical and Mental Disabilities
• Association with a person or group that has any of the actual or perceived characteristics stated above

Schoolyard Bullying

Due to the large amount of bullying in schools and over the internet, legislation like Seth’s Law has been passed to ensure that bullying is taken seriously and dealt with in a timely manner to ensure the safety of the victim. The seriousness of the cases in adolescents has created the need for employers to revisit the anti-bullying laws in the workplace.

Workplace Bullying

Bullying in the workplace isn’t just restricted to the list we mentioned above; it has other forms that are considered such as:

• Offensive conduct or behavior (including nonverbal gestures) which humiliate, intimidate, or threaten
• Verbal Abuse
• Work interference (or sabotage) which prevents work from getting completed

These bullying conditions can be met either by the owner/management or fellow peers. If your peers are the persons in question, it is important to bring it up with your superiors immediately so action can be taken. In the case that you are a manager and it is the owner that is bullying you, legal action is likely your only course of action.

Are You Really Being Bullied?

Common signs of workplace bullying include but are not limited to:

• Your co-worker/employer shows aggression or verbal anger toward you
• Your co-worker/employer displays non-verbal aggression toward you (example: slamming things onto your desk violently)
• Your co-worker/employer humiliates you in front of other people (whether associated with your workplace or not)
• Your employer unjustifiably punishes you emotionally, physically, or psychologically
• Your co-worker/employer acts vindictive towards you, retaliates against you, or has sought revenge
• Your co-worker/employer belittles you based on your work, ideas, opinions or personal circumstances
• Your co-worker/employer spies on you, stalks you, or pesters you
• Your co-worker/employer threatens you with termination, unwarranted punishment, or physical, emotional, or psychological abuse
• Your co-worker/employer forces or aggressively encourages you to say or do things against your will
• Your co-worker/employer speaks with you using offensive or demeaning jokes, gossip, rumors, profanity, or harassment
• Your co-worker/employer interferes with your personal belongings
• Your employer uses unfair tactics to block your progression, advancement within the organization, or growth as an employee
• Your co-worker/employer designs a devious campaign to kick you out of your job or get you fired

If any of these sound familiar, then you are being bullied. Please take note of any specific instances to help your attorney in the future proceedings when you take action. Let this reassure you, anti-bullying laws were made to keep you safe.