15
creates social isolation by making bad jokes
or whether the abuse is more overt. In order to
eliminate abusive behavior you have to eliminate
the social rewards created by that behavior.
The good news is that we have decades of
research on what works to extinguish unwanted
behavior using techniques known as operant
conditioning. The problem is that it is hard to do. If
you aren’t trained properly on it you won’t be able
to do it. And that’s not an exaggeration.
The extinction protocol is the hardest of the
behavioral techniques to master. It’s very easy to
trigger the extinction process. Most anti-bullying/
harassment programs teach this. The problem is
that triggering the extinction process is just the
first step. What employees really want and need
to learn is what happens next. Not being taught
the full protocol is the reason why most attempts
to stop bullying/harassment fail.
When it comes to satisfying the new training
requirement you should look for a trainer who
can explain the entire extinction protocol, the
behavioral science behind why retaliation occurs
and how operant conditioning can be used to
control it. Ideally, you should find a trainer who
understands not just the basics of the extinction
technique, but how it can go so horribly wrong.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The new law in California creates challenges
for employers, but it also represents a new
opportunity. Pretty much everyone has either been
bullied or has witnessed bullying. Despite decades
of mandated training on the topic and laws
prohibiting it; harassment, bullying, discrimination
and retaliation continue to plague us.
While this new law may seem like just another
regulatory hassle, by requiring that we teach
our employees the behavioral skills necessary to
actually stop abusive behavior, we are arming our
employees with a very powerful toolset they can
use to resolve conflict and differences in a more
civilized and professional way.
The benefit of this approach goes far beyond the
workplace. Every employee who learns how to
stop bullies in the workplace is a potential parent
who can now teach their kids these same skills.
Imagine what kind of world we could live in if kids
in school were never bullied because their parents
knew how to help them get it to stop using science
based techniques that actually work!
This isn’t a pipe dream. It’s real and it’s doable,
but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Teaching people
the behavioral skills necessary to get bullying and
harassment to stop is just the first step.
HR
Jennifer Hancock is the author of
“The Bully Vaccine” and founder
of Humanist Learning Systems.
She offers a free 2 hour HRCI &
SHRM approved e-course on how
to create a sexual harassment
training that actually works
AB 2053
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on staffing HR professionals at all levels on a
direct-hire, contract-to-hire or interim basis
with companies across all industries and
throughout the greater Bay Area.
For more than 25 years we have answered
HR leaders’ and company decision makers’
needs for critical HR talent on demand, when
and where needed. In addition, our consulting
services in the areas of compensation,
learning and development and coaching make
us the go-to resource for HR expertise in
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Merit Resource Group
San Ramon, CA | 925-867-4400
Sunnyvale, CA | 408-501-8863
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