Whether at work, at school, on the internet, at home, or in the public eye, bullying effects everyone, and it does leave an impact on one's well being.

For victims of bullying, (according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, fact sheet), the consequences may be significant. Physical, mental and psychosomatic health symptoms are well established, e.g. stress, depression, reduced self esteem, self-blame, phobia, sleep disturbances, digestive and musculoskeletal problems. Post traumatic stress disorder, similar to symptoms exhibited after other traumatic experiences such as disasters and assaults, is also common among victims of bullying. These symptoms might persist for years after the incidents.

Other consequences might be social isolation, family problems and financial problems due to absence or discharge from work.

At the organizational level, the costs of bullying can result in higher absenteeism and staff turnover, reduced effectiveness and productivity, not only for the victims of bullying but also for other colleagues who suffer from the negative psychological climate in the work environment.

A bully in the workplace is a bully in the home, teaching one to bully in school, who teaches others to bully.

In North America, only two Canadian provinces prohibit workplace bullying: Quebec (2004) prohibits psychological harassment in the workplace (visit Quebec Labour Standards); and, Saskatchewan (2007) prohibits physical and mental harassment in and out of the workplace (visit Saskatchewan Occupational Health and Safety).

What is psychological harassment in the workplace? (Quebec Labour Standards)
Psychological harassment is vexatious behaviour that manifests itself in the form of conduct, verbal comments, actions or gestures characterized by the following: they are repetitive, hostile or unwanted; they affect the person's dignity or psychological integrity; they result in a harmful work environment.

Vexatious behaviour is humiliating or abusive behaviour that lowers a person's self-esteem or causes him torment.

Harassment is expressed by: Making rude, degrading or offensive remarks. Making gestures that seek to intimidate. Discrediting the person through rumours, ridicule, and humiliation. Belittling the person, yelling at him, threatening him, prohibiting him from speaking to others. Isolating the person.

The Alberta Government, and Alberta Human Rights do not recognize emotional bullying and psychological harassment as abuse in the workplace. At present, in Alberta, there are no provisions for recourse.

Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta have made the following comments:

Oct.10/06

"While there are no plans to expand this provision in that legislation, your comments have also been forwarded to the team conducting the review of Alberta's Employment Standards Code."

Alana DeLong, MLA, Calgary Bow

Jan. 17/08

"Bullying in the workplace is a serious issue. . neither the OHS Act nor the ES Code have specific
provisions that explicitly address this problem,"

Iris Evans, former Minister of Employment, Immigration & Industry

May 2/08

"...the OHS Code does not have provisions addressing non-physical workplace bullying.
The elimination of any type of workplace harassment and bullying is best achieved through education and awareness."

Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment & Immigration

May 12/08

"A Provincial Prevention of Bullying Strategy was implemented in 2004/2005 to address this serious issue.

A decision was made to start with young Albertans as the Strategy is about change in societal attitudes
and behaviours, and change can start with them.

...the provincial Prevention of Bullying Strategy is targeted to children and youth."

Pearl Calahasen, MLA, Lesser Slave Lake

May 16/08

"I have taken the liberty of forwarding your letter and attached reference material for the review and consideration of my cabinet colleagues: the Honourable Ron Liepert, Minister of Health and Wellness, whose ministry looks after victims of workplace bullying; the Honourable Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration, whose ministry is responsible for safe and fair workplaces; and the Honourable Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, whose ministry is responsible for the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission."

Dave Hancock, Minister of Education

June 12/08

"As you are seeking consideration for legislation that concerns the relationships between employees and employers, I have asked the Minister of Employment and Immigration to respond on my behalf."

Ron Liepert, Minister of Health and Wellness

June 21/08

"E & I has a Workplace Health and Safety bulletin titled "Preventing Violence and Harassment at the Workplace",

Pearl Calahasen, MLA, Lesser Slave Lake

July 21/08

"While I applaud your efforts towards the cause of ending workplace bullying, the workplace you are concerned with is, for all intents and purposes, outside of my ministry's mandate. This is not to say that workplace bullying is not cause for concern, it is merely one that I believe can be best addressed by dealing with bullying behaviours at their antecedents----those displayed in school-aged children."

Spence Nichol; for Dave Hancock, Minister of Education

Aug. 19/08

"As outlined in Minister Goudreau's letter of May 2/08 to you, general information on Human Rights and Citizenship Commission programs and services is available by accessing their website..."

Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture & Community Spirit

Aug. 25/08

"The current governmental policy is to address workplace harassment with education and awareness."

Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment & Immigration

Prevention and strategies? Is it not the innocent child that loses the most when the parent/care giver is left with no choice but to quit after continuous bullying in the workplace? A loss which most of us take for granted, the basic necessities of life; the benefits: dental visits, eye glasses, hearing aids, braces, etc. (Politicians are to quick to respond by reminding those in need, to access funding programs. Does this not create another cycle? The cycle of poverty?)

Why is it that adults are so quick to lay blame on the children? After all, children learn from within their environment, and from other children. So until the adult stops the bullying, then so will the child. How can we expect some children to know better, when some adults don't?

What is it that keeps the Alberta Government from following in the footsteps of Quebec and Saskatchewan?

Will we continue to hear of the many youth suicides, as well as the continuing rise of young offenders? Is this a trend that we want to see continue for our children's children?

While the province of Alberta reaps the rewards, it greatly lacks in civility.

After speaking with both victims and bullies; those that were bullied on a regular basis over a number of years, spoke with much anger, bitterness and resentment. These are the people who believed: those who bullied, had a right to bully, because there was a reason for the bullying.

Is it these beliefs that take some to another level?----school shootings?----work related shootings?

To help stop this vicious cycle of bullying, residents within the province of Alberta, in Canada, are encouraged to voice their concern by faxing/emailing their own work related horror stories to their local Politicians, Provincial Ministers, and Labour Standards Managers. (see NEWS page for contacts)

Until then; by learning to become aware of your own feelings, beliefs, behaviours, and the choices that you make, and being able to recognize and understand that which was once negative, and turn it into a positive, will enable you to walk in another's shoes, teaching you to become non-jugemental, thus understanding the other person, and creating empathy.