Insights

On May 25, 2011 Dean will be speaking at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Attorney / Investigator Conference on the topic of Protecting Investigations from Allegations of Impropriety and Incompetence. For more information on the conference click here

The issue of workplace violence continues to make the news. Recently a study titled Workplace Violence and Harassment: A European Picture published by the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work. Agency Director, Jukka Takala stated, “Both violence and harassment represent serious but under-reported threats to the safety and wellbeing of workers in Europe”. There is debate in various countries around the world about the need to legislate obligations for employers to establish programs focused on reduction of workplace violence and harassment.

Workplace conflict and allegations of poisoned work environments can happen anywhere as a recent news story demonstrates. The Human Rights Tribunal in Ottawa, Ontario is currently dealing with allegations from several staff and managers of a toxic workplace and harassment in the workplace. Even in an  organization with a mandate to assist others in resolving conflict the ugly realities of today's workplace can take hold. Nobody is immune from being exposed and drawn in to workplace conflict.

In a 2010 survey completed by the Workplace Bullying Institute it was found that thirty-five per cent of Americans are experiencing workplace bullying firsthand while an additional fifteen percent report witnessing it. Based on the work we do at Benard + Associates these statistics are no surprise. We have observed a steady flow of reported incidents where bullying and harassment are alleged.

On April 27, 2011 Dean will be speaking on the topic of undertaking regulatory investigations and gathering evidence at the 15th Annual Professional Regulation and Discipline Conference held by Infonex.