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The Vermont Statehouse was buzzing with activities as the Legislature returned to work. The committees were assigned or
reassigned and the hot topics once again were brought up for discussion as the new 2008 session began. Room 10 had barely
a seat vacant as the Tuesday afternoon House caucus once again officially met. Such topics as No child left behind, the bill
proposed to let farmers sell raw milk, a bill to provide state workers with a paid 30-day leave to recover after they had
donated an organ to save another's life, the high price of fuel and the issues of forest conservation took center stage.
I
went there to observe and to listen. As a whistleblower I know the process can work if you are willing to give your time and
energy. I have joined with others in testifying in the committees and publicly sharing my experiences to bring about a much-needed
law. In 2003, the Whistleblower Law for Health Care Workers was signed into a law.
I went to not only learn about issues
that impact each of us but also to learn about two other bills. May 9, 2007, the Healthy Workplace Bill was introduced by
Rep. Leo Valliere (H.548) and the Senate bill (S.312) introduced by Sen. Ann Cummings. Rep. Helen Head and Sen. Vincent Illuzzi
are the chairpersons of the committees that will be the first to open up discussions that have the ability to change the future
of Vermont's workers. Bullying in the workplace is a reality, it is estimated one in every six employees are bullied in America's
workplaces.
The legal process has failed an estimated 54 million workers a year, they are being legally bullied in
the workplace.
We are the only industrialized nation to not have any law on the books to address workplace bullying.
We are the 13th state to have introduced this legislation to stop the bullying.
Vermont has a history of being first
to step forward and I believe we will be the first to pass this law that will protect not only the workers but will reap the
financial benefits that will be reflected in the increased profits that result from a healthy workplace.
Today, I felt
a sense of hope and promise that our lawmakers will work toward a common solution to the problems we face here in the state
of Vermont.
Sherrill P. Gilbert
Vtbullybusters.org | 
