2021 Respectful WorkPlace Series 

The WorkLife Office formalized our 2020 conference theme “Toward a Positive Work Environment” during an early planning meeting several months before the pandemic.  The conference was part of our comprehensive plan to address toxic work environments at Michigan State.  We also formed a work group to conduct “Positive Work Environments” research in Spring 2021 and we launched workplace.msu.edu this year to provide tools for the MSU community. 

We heard MSU employees speak clearly during our annual conference: Bullying is a significant issue at MSU.  In a sample poll, 94% of our attendees indicated they have witnessed/experienced workplace bullying on campus.  The WorkPlace Series is our response to support you. 

Workplace bullying encompasses both intentional and unwitting behaviors (words, gestures, images, actions, and failure to act) which, over time, humiliate, demoralize, or terrorize an employee or group of employees, undermine their targets’ credibility and effectiveness, and contribute to a disrespectful or hostile work environment. (Research Team on Workplace Violence and Abuse, Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research, University of New Brunswick) 

What We Are Doing 

We have defined workplace bullying and determined it is an issue.  Now, we will teach you what you can do to identify and address bullying in the workplace.  Our 4-week series will include: 

1/08/21 Defining and Identifying Workplace Bullying: What It Is and What It Isn’t 
Friday at noon

Our new website (workplace.msu.edu) includes a glossary with definitions of 57 terms and phrases related workplace bullying. This session will give you an overview of those key terms and their respective definitions. This session is intended for staff, faculty, post-docs, and grad students who would like to dive deeper to understand these key terms and phrases and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions to the WorkLife staff about some of the intricacies of the terminology. Understanding workplace bullying is the first step to addressing it.

We will also discuss how workplace bullying relates to specific roles, identities, and job classifications. For example:

• Where do I go if I am a grad student or post-doc who is being bullied?
• Who do I talk to if my supervisor is bullying me?
• What types of discrimination and harassment concerns are handled by the Office of Institutional Equity?
• What types of complaints, conflicts or problems are issues the ombudsperson might address?

1/15/21 Approaches to Address Workplace Bullying: Your Path to a Positive Work Environment 
Friday at noon

During the first session of this series, attendees learned and discussed the many terms and phrases that apply to workplace bullying.  It is important to start with a solid understanding about what workplace bullying is and what it isn’t.  Now that you know what workplace bullying is, we will teach you some options to address it.

One place to start is to look at our flow chart.  The flow chart is intended to guide general approaches and considerations in determining an appropriate approach.  It is not intended to reflect any individual institution’s specific policies or practices, nor to identify which offices or authorities deal with various stages in a particular institution.  Rather, for informative purposes, the kinds of questions and issues to be considered throughout a process are outlined for clarity.

During this webinar session, we will make sure the resources and processes offered take various situations into account (e.g., Where do grad students go if your supervisor/advisor is bullying you?).  For a variety of attendees, we will provide one or two relevant examples aimed at your experience that might be helpful.

Branch and Murray (2015) provide a framework that encompasses both formal and informal approaches to address workplace bullying.  Some of the approaches are institutional, like establishing policies and procedures, while others help bystanders.  We will cover the most useful approaches for individuals who have been targets or witnesses bullying at MSU.

1/22/21 Supervisor Role Models: Outstanding Supervisor Award Winner Panel 
Friday at noon

The WorkLife Office is implementing a comprehensive effort to address bullying at Michigan State University. Some of the elements of our effort are preventive including this webinar intended to develop respectful behaviors in the workplace. Our panel of “Outstanding Supervisor Award” winners will give you practical advice how to build a positive work environment in your workplace. Our panelists are supervisors, so this webinar is the perfect place for any supervisor looking to start out.

Panelist Monte Pride supervises individuals classified APA14, APA15, and Administrative Assistant. Panelist Julie Libarkin supervises students. Panelist Kelly Millenbah supervises faculty and individuals classified APA, APSA, and Professional Aide. Panelist Sarah Handspike supervises individuals classified as CT7 and CT9.

Our diverse panel can answer your questions about supervision, and they can address any type of classification scenario. You should attend this session if you are a supervisor, support staff, student, or any other individual who would like to build a positive work environment.

The Outstanding Supervisor Panel

• Monte Pride 
• Kelly Millenbah 
• Julie Libarkin  
• Sarah Handspike 
• Deb Martinez 

1/29/21 From Toxic to Safe: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Stop Bullying Now 
Friday at noon

Our fourth and final session will be a comprehensive review of your options if you are currently being bullied.  We will help you form a plan.  We will provide a straightforward set of options to help you better understand what you can do to stop bullying now.  There is no “one size fits all” approach.  Each toxic work environment is different, so we encourage you to learn about the types of bullying and then join us for the final session to develop your plan.

This session will build upon the work presented at the 2020 Annual WorkLife Conference and materials available at our “Toward a Respectful Workplace” website.

We will focus on our Workplace Conflict Resource Map (Navigation Guide)

Panelists will share knowledge about certain options for MSU staff, faculty, and students when instances of bullying and toxic work environments exist on campus.

Series supported by:

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences; Infrastructure, Planning, and Facilities; Graduate Student Life & Wellness; Office of Postdoctoral Affairs; Human Resources; Prevention, Outreach, and Education; and Office of the University Ombudsperson 

Sources 

• workplace.msu.edu 
• Incivility in The Workplace: Combating Toxicity and Improving Workplace Climate 
• When “I Just Didn’t Know What to Say” Isn’t Enough: Bystander Training for Bullying 
• 2020 Conference Keynote – Towards A Positive Work Environment: Where Bullying Has No Place