4+-+IMP+Proposal

Multimedia Project Proposal - Bullying in the Workplace

** Background/Rationale ** // From Bullying in Youth to Bullying in the Workplace // Bullying in youth, a not so recent phenomenon, has been the focus of a very large nationwide initiative following the self-inflicted deaths of several bullied youths. In October, President Obama submitted an anti-bullying video message to the website of the "It Gets Better" project, a worldwide campaign to bring awareness to and combat bullying (see below). In his video Obama says, “It’s so important that as adults we set an example in our own lives and that we treat everybody with respect. That we are able to see the world through other people’s eyes and stand in their shoes – that we never lose sight of what binds us together.”

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Many studies point to the connection that bullying begins at home by parents who generate and sustain feelings of anger and hostility in their children. These same parents are the ones who likely show up in the workplace every day and inflict upon others that same aggressiveness (Harris, Harvey, & Booth, 2010). Workplace bullying statistics show that 35% of all US workers report being bullied at work and that the majority of bullying is same-gender harassment (Workplace Bullying Institute, 2010). Additionally, it is widely agreed that the law offers little or no protection against bullying actions not motivated by protected class status (e.g., race, age, sexual orientation) (Habinsky & Fitzgerald, 2011). Based on these and other statistics, then, there are a large number of people being unfairly treated in the workplace with no hope of reprieve.

** Goals and Objectives ** The overall goal of this instructional multimedia project is to provide participants an opportunity to learn about and increase understanding of bullying in the workplace (specifically the US Attorney Office Workplace) and how it could contribute to bullying at home and in children. Participants can also access resources to combat workplace bullying and learn communication tools to improve relationships and productivity. Specifically, participants will be able to:
 * Recognize and define workplace bullying behavior
 * Access resources and contacts if being victimized
 * Understand how to engage in difficult conversations earlier and more productively to address and resolve bullying-related conflict
 * Engage in interactive discussion regarding workplace bullying

An indirect goal of this project is to hook into the prosecutorial community and tie together multiple federal-level programs, such as the Attorney General’s initiatives on Project Safe Childhood/Neighborhoods, Victim Witness and Law Enforcement Coordinators Programs, and the President’s push for civility in the workplace.

** Target Audience ** The target audience is United States Department of Justice employees in United States Attorneys Offices, approximately 11,000 attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and administrative personnel stationed in the 93 United States Attorneys Offices throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. United States Attorneys serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General and conduct most of the trial work in which the United States is a party. United States Attorneys are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, the President of the United States, with advice and consent of the United States Senate. Each United States Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement officer of the United States within his or her particular jurisdiction. Therefore, as leaders in the advocacy of justice, USAO employees are also leaders in childhood bullying initiatives/safe neighborhoods and should serve as the example for others.

US Attorney training is conducted at The National Advocacy Center (NAC), which is operated by the Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys. The NAC provides both residential and online training.

** Content ** The content of the instructional multimedia project supports the overall goal – to learn about and increase understanding of bullying in the workplace. Specifically, users will receive interactive information on: · Understanding what bullying is   · The subtle signs of bullying (e.g., shunning, rude comments) · How to know when someone or yourself is being bullied/bullying · How we should treat each other in the workplace (a broad bullying/civility code of conduct) · How bullying in the workplace connects to bullying in children (at home and in school)

** Delivery Options ** Initially, the interactive multimedia project will be piloted on Wikispaces. Ultimately, the project will be hosted on the US Department of Justice, Executive Office for US Attorneys’ internal Sharepoint Site. Delivery methods include an interactive learning module consisting of (but not limited to) the following: · Multimedia presentation on bullying in the workplace · Video case examples · Articles · An online anonymous discussion board · Links to other federal-level initiatives · Clearinghouse site for workplace bullying best practices Evaluation will consist of a short assessment, when completed, will link to the employees’ online learning transcript for continuing education credit.

** Resources ** Habinsky, J. & Fitzgerald, C.M. (2011). Office bully takes one on the nose: developing law on workplace abuse. //New York Law Journal, 21//(1), 7.

Harris, K.J., Harvey, P, & Booth, S.L., & Booth, S.L. (2010). Who abuses their coworkers? an examination of personality and situational variables. //Journal of Social Psychology, 150//(6), 608-27.

“President Obama: It Gets Better” video. Retrieved February 7, 2011, from []

United States Department of Justice Website. Retrieved February 7, 2011, from [|http://www.usdoj.gov].

Workplace Bullying Institute Website. Retrieved February 7, 2011, from [|http://www.workplacebullying.org].

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