Dem committee meets to discuss psychological abuse in the workplace

State House Speaker Hosts Hearing on Workplace Psychological Abuse

The State House Speaker, Joanna McClinton, recently hosted a hearing in Darby with the House Majority Policy Committee to address the issue of psychological abuse in the workplace and explore options for expanding workplace safety provisions to combat it.

Importance of Workplace Safety and Psychological Abuse

McClinton emphasized the importance of workplace safety, stating that everyone deserves to be safe at work, not only from physical harm but also from mental or psychological abuse. She highlighted the need for additional measures to protect workers from workplace psychological hazards such as bullying and oppressive treatment, which can create toxic work environments and cause stress and anxiety for employees.

Understanding Workplace Psychological Abuse

Workplace psychological abuse involves interpersonal abuse that violates an employee’s right to dignity and respect. Prolonged abuse and oppressive treatment can create a toxic work environment that affects individual employees or even an entire workforce. Often, employees choose to leave a workplace to escape harassment, especially if their reports of abusive treatment have been ignored.

Creating Psychologically Healthy Workplaces

McClinton referred to the American Psychological Association’s definition of psychologically healthy workplaces, where employees trust that they are valued members of the team. These workplaces encourage open discussions about mistakes, problems, and tough issues, and provide support, feedback, and opportunities for employees to share ideas without fear of negative treatment.

Current Limitations in Workplace Protection

The Occupational Safety and Health Act primarily focuses on physical safety and does not adequately protect employees from workplace psychological abuse. Existing laws only offer protection if an employee is covered under Title VII or the Civil Rights Act and can prove that the abuse is based on their membership in a protected class.

Efforts to Advance Worker Protections

McClinton’s office highlighted the Democratic caucus’s efforts to advance worker protections. They have passed bills to expand Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protection to Pennsylvania’s public sector employees (H.B. 299), establish safe staffing levels for nurses (H.B. 106), and safeguard workers from wage theft through misclassification by employers (H.B. 413). However, these measures have not been acted upon by the state Senate.

Originally Published: August 19, 2024 at 9:51 a.m.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
• SDG 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
• SDG 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
• SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, potential indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets include:

• Number of reported cases of workplace psychological abuse
• Percentage of workplaces with policies and procedures in place to address workplace psychological abuse
• Percentage of employees who feel safe and respected in their workplace
• Number of successful legal cases related to workplace psychological abuse

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: delcotimes.com