Workplace Harassment

What is the definition of workplace bullying?

The repeated, health harming mistreatment by one or more employees of an employee; abusive conduct/verbal abuse; or behaviors perceived as threatening/humiliating/work sabotage

5 categories of bullying behavior

threat to professional status, threat to personal standing, isolation, overwork, destabilization

incidence of workplace bullying

30% of workers→ 48.6 million Americans

the majority of bullying is ____ gender

same

who do bullies target?

the weak, the new, the different

contributing factors to bullying at the organizational level

culture that normalizes, rewarding success of bullying, high workloads, understaffing, power imbalances, lack of management skills

the bully’s relationship to the victim is most often ______

a superior

themes of physiotherapist bullying study victims

Surprise, vulnerability, self-blame

methods for prevention of bullying at the manager level

education and self-assessment, create supportive culture, practice zero tolerance, lead by example, utilize HR resources

methods for prevention of bullying at the organizational level

support a code of conduct, create strong sense of community, adopt zero tolerance policies, establish policies/procedures for reporting and investigating complaints, conduct periodic confidential employee attitude surveys

what does the healthy workplace bill (HWB) do for workers?

provides avenue for legal redress for health harming cruelty at work, can sue employer for exposure to harmful work environment, seeks restoration for lost wages/benefits

What constitutes sexual harassment according to the EEOC?

unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature

defining characteristic of sexual harassment

it is unwanted/unwelcome

3 types of sexual harassment

gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion

harassment that involves the conditioning of concrete employment benefits on sexual favors; occurs when submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affection such individual

quid pro qu (this for that) sexual harassment

the type of sexual harassment which does not affect economic benefits but creates a hostile or offensive working environment

hostile work environment sexual harassment

sexual harassment has a _____ incidence but is ______ reported

high, under

incidence of sexual harassment in healthcare

75% of female doctors harassed by patients, 60% of medical trainees experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or discrimination

predictive risk factors for inappropriate sexual behavior (IPSB) committed by a patient towards a clinician

number of years in practice, patients with cognitive impairment, patient sex, clinician sex

most successful informal responses to IPSB

distraction/redirection, avoiding opportunities for the behavior, speaking directly to the patient

most successful formal responses to IPSB

chaperone future visits, transfer care to another provider, behavioral contract

ERASE acronym for misconduct by patients

expect misbehavior and make plan, recognize misconduct, address behaviors, support your colleagues, establish/encourage workshops and policies

Prevention of sexual harassment at the manager level

change the culture, implement protections, take action

considerations for the prevention of patient sexual harassment greivances

clearly identify self, communicate clearly, use third party witnesses when appropriate, assess cognitive competence, ensure informed consent, practice cultural competence, know/abide by pt rights

3 step process for consent

explain what→ explain why→ is that ok

summary of patient rights

care in safe setting free from harassement, communication, respectful care, good quality care and professional standard