Let’s connect the dots for state agency administrators. Abusive managers are fiscally compromising your agency at a time when it can least afford it. Payouts for legal case settlements (spawned by lawsuits filed or threatened by bullied individuals) should not be considered a routine cost of doing the government’s business. Every agency is looking for ways to cut costs.

What to do: Terminate one or two repeat offenders — your HR or Risk Manager can tell you who they are — and savings will quickly accrue. Since most settlements start in six figures, you will save much more than cuts in position salaries and benefits alone.

What not to do: Slash and burn, break union contracts (how would you like your employment contract to be broken?) and indiscriminately and inefficiently try to save money. Please do not oppose the Healthy Workplace Bill in your state. State agency heads tend to reflexively oppose the bill saying that it will cost the state money (this declaration is attached to the bill in a fiscal impact statement which helps kill the bill during tough economic times). The tautological reasoning is that as an employer, the state, will inevitably be sued under the new law. Really? In the Healthy Workplace Bill we provided an exemption for good employers who take corrective steps to stop bullying when it is reported. The faulty fiscal impact argument posits that (1) state managers cannot manage staff without being abusive, and (2) administrators will either be unable or unwilling to stop their managers when they become aware of the bullying. In other words, mismanagement by state leaders is assumed and the agencies will be sued and cost the state money. Huh?

Additional benefits of stopping the bullying: Productivity of workers who have been waiting for the purge will skyrocket. Morale/engagement of survivors will rise. The agency will endure less absenteeism and presenteeism. It’s your responsibility as stewards of public taxpayers money to use your budget in wise ways.

Finally, dear state agency administrator, our suggestions can make it a humane and healthy workplace again, if you care.

Tags: austerity, fiscal impact, fiscal note, Healthy Workplace Bill, state agency