Eye rolling, glaring, a nasty comment are just a few of the methods of workplace harrassment. I know, it doesn’t seem like anything very significant, but that’s how it either get’s started or continued.

Now the question is, who do you complain to that your boss is ridiculing you? Or, what about that co-worker that won’t help you on projects when needed?

“Many of these situations fall between the cracks of existing state and federal employment law,” said David C. Yamada, a professor at the Suffolk University Law School in Boston, who has actually drafted antibullying legislation.

“There is a real gap in the law that someone could be tormented and subjected to humiliation and really be suffering because of it, but the courts are saying it’s not severe enough for us to allow the lawsuit to go forward.”

These bills that are being introduced are often referred to as “healthy workplace” legislation. The name is more agreeable with business, but they also have an understanding of the serious health toll consistent harrassment in their workplace can have.

Victims can and do become physically ill from the stress which causes depression, anxiety and even symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Surveys have also suggested that victims of workplace harrassment will call in sick more often. Whether they are really sick or just avoiding the abusive environment is not always clear though.