S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 2247--A
                                                        Cal. No. 437

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 15, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SCHROEDER, MILLMAN, COLTON, LATIMER, LUPARDO,
  ENGLEBRIGHT, ORTIZ, STIRPE, KELLNER, ROSENTHAL --  Multi-Sponsored  by
  --  M. of A.  CLARK, HOOPER, LANCMAN, LAVINE, McDONOUGH, PAULIN, SALA-
  DINO, SCHIMEL, THIELE -- read once and referred to  the  Committee  on
  Labor -- passed by Assembly and delivered to the Senate, recalled from
  the  Senate,  vote  reconsidered,  bill  amended,  ordered  reprinted,
  retaining its place on the order of third reading

AN ACT in relation to authorizing and directing the department of  labor
  to study workplace abuse and harassment

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that the social
and economic well-being of the  state  is  dependent  upon  healthy  and
productive  employees. Research on hostile workplace behaviors indicates
that a significant percent of employees will experience health-endanger-
ing workplace abuse and  harassment  at  some  point  in  their  working
careers.  In addition to harming the target of such abuse, this behavior
also has consequences for employers, including reduced employee  produc-
tivity  and  morale,  higher turnover and absenteeism rates, and signif-
icant increases in medical and workers' compensation claims.
  S 2. The department of labor is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to
study  hostile workplace behavior, including psychological and emotional
abuse, and its consequences, including but not limited to costs incurred
by the workers' compensation system, and shall  develop  recommendations
to reduce workplace abuse and harassment; and report its findings to the
legislature  and  the  governor within one year of the effective date of
this act.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
  FISCAL NOTE.-- The bill directs the Department of Labor to study work-
place abuse and harassment and to report  to  the  Legislature  and  the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03104-03-9
              

A. 2247--A                          2

Governor, within one year, its findings and recommendations for reducing
such abuse and harassment.
  If this bill passes, as proposed, our Research and Statistics Division
and  Safety  and Health Division would expect to see a significant work-
load increase. We estimate we would need three additional  positions  at
an estimated annual cost of $366,000.
  In  addition, DOL is already participating in a 5-year National Insti-
tute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study.  The NIOSH  study
seems  to  address the request for a study of hostile workplace behavior
for psychological and emotional abuse and some of its consequences.  The
report  to  the  agencies, we believe, will highlight what was found and
could include recommendations to reduce the workplace abuse and  harass-
ment.
  This fiscal note was prepared for the 2009 legislative session and was
prepared by Roger Bailie of the department of labor.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 2247--B
                                                        Cal. No. 437

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 15, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SCHROEDER, MILLMAN, COLTON, LATIMER, LUPARDO,
  ENGLEBRIGHT, ORTIZ, STIRPE, KELLNER, ROSENTHAL --  Multi-Sponsored  by
  --  M. of A.  CLARK, HOOPER, LANCMAN, LAVINE, McDONOUGH, PAULIN, SALA-
  DINO, SCHIMEL, THIELE -- read once and referred to  the  Committee  on
  Labor -- passed by Assembly and delivered to the Senate, recalled from
  the  Senate,  vote  reconsidered,  bill  amended,  ordered  reprinted,
  retaining its place on the order of third reading -- again amended  on
  third  reading, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of
  third reading

AN ACT in relation to authorizing and directing the department of  labor
  to study workplace abuse and harassment

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that the social
and economic well-being of the  state  is  dependent  upon  healthy  and
productive  employees. Research on hostile workplace behaviors indicates
that a significant percent of employees will experience health-endanger-
ing workplace abuse and  harassment  at  some  point  in  their  working
careers.  In addition to harming the target of such abuse, this behavior
also has consequences for employers, including reduced employee  produc-
tivity  and  morale,  higher turnover and absenteeism rates, and signif-
icant increases in medical and workers' compensation claims.
  S 2. The department of labor is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to
study  hostile workplace behavior, including psychological and emotional
abuse, and its consequences, including but not limited to costs incurred
by the workers' compensation system, and shall  develop  recommendations
to reduce workplace abuse and harassment; and report its findings to the
legislature  and  the  governor within one year of the effective date of
this act.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03104-04-9