Does Maine need a law against workplace bullying?

In many states around the country, state legislators are discussing and debating whether to enact laws that prohibit workplace bullying. These laws would, for instance, make it illegal for an employer to sit on its hands and do nothing if an employee physically assaulted a co-worker. Laws against workplace bullying have been introduced in the legislatures in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In the recent past, a legislator floated the idea in Maine as well.

Many people would be surprised to know that a lot of workplace bullying is not already illegal. Under current law, unless someone bullies you at work for an unlawful reason, such as because of your sex, race, religion, age, or disability, there is no law that requires your employer to do anything about it. So, if you are experiencing workplace bullying and your employer is not doing anything to stop the bullying, you should contact an experienced employment lawyer to determine whether you have any legal rights.