Veto of Maine Workplace Bullying Bill Upheld

Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill aimed at bullying in the workplace will stand.

The Maine House of Representatives last week voted 87-56 to sustain the governor’s veto, short of the two-thirds majority needed to override.

The bill as amended directed the Workers’ Compensation Board to study psychological and physical harm employees suffer due to abusive work environments.

In his veto message, the governor said the study was unnecessary because the Workers’ Compensation Board already provides benefits to employees who suffer physical and psychological injuries on the job.

The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Sara Gideon of Freeport, says 35 percent of adult Americans report being bullied at work. She says workplace bullying threatens health, careers, witnesses and affected families.