State College, PA Workplace Intimidation and Bullying Lawyer

A culture of bullying in the workplace can exist anywhere, even in companies that advertise policies to protect employees against harassment and intimidation. Sometimes these anti-bullying policies are not enforced. The ads are mere “lip service” for publicity or to attract job applicants. These organizations are likely to sweep these illegal acts under the rug. If the bully is your supervisor, you may be afraid of losing your job, or you may feel withdrawn and conflicted about your status at work, and concerned about an impact to your future career prospects. To make matters worse, the bully may even get promoted. In the meantime, you are left with a great deal of anxiety, without confidence and motivation at a personal level, and possibly with a disjointed career situation.  People who behave in intimidating ways in the workplace do this because no one stops them—they are emboldened to continue tormenting the co-worker without facing consequences. Choosing to be silent may be the worst decision you can make. There are lawyers who specialize in representing victims of workplace intimidation who can advocate vigorously on your behalf and help you regain the voice the bully has taken from you. Our experience representing these cases of workplace intimidation and bullying tells us that with the right legal representation you can remedy the financial damages as well as the personal losses.

The accomplished attorneys working at the law office of Andrew Shubin have won significant victories for clients seeking redress for constitutional and civil rights violations in the workplace. The exhausting and stressful terrain of confronting bullying and intimidation in the workplace can end, and you can begin to plan for a brighter career future. Attorneys working at the State College law office of Andrew Shubin are committed to providing high-quality representation to victims of bullying and intimidation in the workplace. Call (814) 826-3586 to schedule a free consultation.

How Intimidation and Workplace Bullying is Defined in Pennsylvania

There are multiple reasons you may be encountering harassment— it can be your age, gender, color, or race or a combination of these. Intimidation and bullying for any of these protected characteristics are prohibited under the US Constitution. In the eyes of the law, bullying and intimidation in the workplace can constitute discrimination in the form of illegal harassment.

The typical pattern of illegal harassment involves deliberate actions intended to dominate, cause distress, torment, and create fear in the intended victim. In addition, there are studies suggesting that bullies tend to be people with an anti-social disorder that makes them unsympathetic, callous, or hardhearted. This lack of empathy can be especially troubling when harassment in the workplace happens to individuals with a strict sense of ethics. Speaking up through a professional and experienced attorney will help you assert your rights without adding unnecessary pain to what you have suffered already.

Bullying and intimidation usually happen in private settings and by a person in a position of authority. People experiencing workplace intimidation and bullying frequently ask themselves what proof will be necessary and how to avoid appearing to be a problematic employee. If you’re having trouble recognizing the conduct as “workplace bullying,” or if you feel that it’s all too much and you’ve lost objectivity, an experienced workplace intimidation bullying lawyer can help you. Schedule a free consultation in our office in State College, PA. Attorney Andrew Shubin is known for his compassion and determination to seek justice for people who suffer illegal intimidation and bullying in the workplace.

Civil Rights Laws Against Illegal Intimidation in a “Hostile Work Environment”

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in the form of a “hostile environment” where discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, and insult permeates in a way that creates an abusive work environment or a pattern of abusive, humiliating and intimidating conduct. This pattern must result in what is known as a “detrimental effect.” The legal terms of “intimidation,” “ridicule,” “insult,” and “detrimental effect” appear general. However, courts tend to look for fact patterns of patent injustice. Pennsylvania courts also tend to look closely at management’s actions (or lack thereof) in these matters. A company that pays “lip service” to anti-bullying and anti-harassment can be exposed and compelled to enforce its own policies. Courts have found Title VII violations when:

• Rumors of a fictional affair with a supervisor are spread to hurt someone’s career
• A supervisor refers to co-workers as “animals”

Another central question is whether management has the knowledge, if the situation was ignored, and for how long. The most common tendency is for people to downplay the actions as jokes. An experienced attorney can go over what has occurred to you and guide you as to the causes of action that can be pursued. Talk to a professional who can give you an informed opinion.

Call State College, PA Workplace Intimidation and Bullying Lawyer Andrew Shubin

If you or someone you know is experiencing intimidation and bullying in the workplace in State College or a surrounding Pennsylvania neighborhood, the accomplished team of lawyers working at the Law Office of Andrew Shubin will guide you and help you make educated decisions. Call us at (814) 826-3586 to schedule a consultation.