Workplace jerks are dangerous to your health. Long-term exposure to psychological mistreatment at the hands of a jerk or bully typically leads to a number of harmful medical conditions, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute, an organization dedicated to the eradication of workplace bullying.

Nausea, tremors of the hands and lips, feeling uncoordinated, chills and profuse sweating, gastrointestinal disorders, rapid heart-beat, rapid breathing and increased blood pressure, chest pain, uncontrollable crying, and headaches are some of the stress symptoms one may experience when subjected to the health-harming treatment of a workplace jerk, according to research by the institute.

If faced with a workplace jerk or bully over a long-term basis, an employee’s prognosis is not good, especially if that jerk is their boss.  Some of the resulting physical conditions experienced by targets include hypertension, heart attacks, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, neurotransmitter disruption, immunological impairment leading to more frequent infections, fibromyalgia, diabetes, skin disorders, and finally, suicide.

Despite all these horrible side effects of jerks in the workplace, it is not illegal to act like a jerk at work, unless the behavior is related to sexual harassment. Too many organizational leaders are willing to allow inhumane behavior, which leads to toxic company cultures where employees work only to earn a paycheck as opposed to building a great life where they enjoy their career. There are a number of reasons for this, including: (1) employers do not know how to confront the office jerk, (2) leaders are afraid of the jerk, (3) the top leader is a jerk, (4) organizations believe the jerk, even with all his/her flaws, is considered indispensable, and (5) managers consider the jerk’s target a weak person who deserves such treatment.

CEO’s rarely see the jerk’s behavior, because bullies are very clever in their approach. Those who engage in psychological violence are experts at causing fear down the corporate ladder while massaging egos up the ladder in order to protect their own career.

Why should a CEO adopt and model a Jerk-Free Workplace? Jerks make you sick and the resulting medical care, absenteeism and presenteeism, lost productivity, employee turnover, and poor public relations exposure is extremely expensive. To counteract employer-provided health costs, there has been an increasing movement to champion healthy workplaces by encouraging exercise, good nutrition and wellness education. Since improved employee health leads to lower health care costs and increased business performance, many organizations are willing to make substantial investments in wellness programs, as well as provide financial incentives to healthy employees.

But before building that onsite gym, subsidizing health club memberships or installing a comprehensive wellness program, the CEO should first take action on behalf of the company’s employees by implementing a Jerk-Free Workplace. It is doubtful exercising, nutrition and wellness education will nullify the compounding, daily effects of jerks who routinely mistreat their targets in the workplace.

There are a growing number of employers who see the advantages of creating civil work environments with rules of engagement where jerk behavior is not allowed. These companies typically require each employee and leader to sign a code of conduct. Jerks are expelled if they do not change their ways. Some organizations have even publicly adopted and publicized their Jerk-Free Workplace status.

I predict there will be a growing trend of employers adopting the Jerk-Free Workplace model because it makes solid business sense and ultimately, it is the right thing to do.

Kevin Kennemer is president of The People Group, a consulting firm committed to improving employee lives, business performance and society through positive people practices. Kevin is also a board member of Tulsa CASA and OKEthics. Kennemer may be contacted at kevin@thepeoplegroupllc.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A TULSA COMPANY IS ELIMINATING JERKS/STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE

TULSA, OKLA. (June 2009) — As Road Science, LLC™ embarks on its new beginning in the road paving industry, the company has become an early adopter of the “Jerk-Free Workplace” with the help of The People Group, LLC, a Tulsa company specializing in positive people practices consulting. Adopting this policy adds Road Science to a short list of only 15 companies in the United States, and the first in Tulsa, who have made a commitment to establishing a jerk-free and bully-free work environment.

According to the employee experience brochure, “Road Science is committed to providing all Team Members a healthy and safe work environment,” and labels bullish behavior as “unacceptable, because it breaches principles of equality and fairness.” Kevin Kennemer, founder and partner of The People Group, holds a passionate view on the importance of operating a workplace free of incivility and bullying. Kennemer said, “jerks can be high performers, but create problems. By Road Science adopting an intolerance to bullying, it will prevent harmful workplace issues, and allow the company to provide, undoubtedly, the best work environment in Tulsa.”

In addition to providing a positive work environment, The People Group and Road Science hope to prevent health-harming issues that are a product of continuous psychological mistreatment and result from being subjected to bullying. Stress-related illnesses can cause employees to withdraw from their peers, friends and family, and can also cause performance on the job to suffer, ultimately, leading to a negative impact on the entire organization.

Brian Majeska, Chief Operating Officer at Road Science, commented, “our management team believes that extraordinary businesses care about three people: the teammate, the customer, the owner. Today, one of our primary focuses is the teammate; each other. Any success we achieve in the future will be based on the environment we are creating today; an ethical environment of trust, belief, collaboration and innovation.

Through this partnership, The People Group is able to provide positive people practice strategies to Road Science in order to attract and retain the best talent through innovative compensation and benefits, as well as a revolutionary, healthy and attractive work environment.

For more information about enacting a Jerk-Free and Bully-Free work environment, please contact The People Group at 888.797.9992.

Road Science, LLC is the leading technology company for the road paving industry. The company focuses on developing long-term business relationships with contractors, manufacturers and agencies. With a team of nearly 100 professionals, Road Science specializes in differentiated products and services for contractors and asphalt manufacturers, as well as assists agencies in creating greater value by protecting and re-using pavements.

www.roadsciencellc.com

The People Group, LLC was founded on the premise that positive people practices are primarily the missing component of average performing companies. Founder Kevin Kennemer, a Tulsa, Okla., native, has twenty years of valuable people practices experience and was formerly the chief human resource officer of an international energy company that rose from obscurity to #5 on Forbes list of largest privately help companies, and was known for their great work environment.

www.thepeoplegroupllc.com

Media Contacts:

Amy Chiconas
Road Science, LLC
Office 918.524.7100
achiconas@roadsciencellc.com

Kevin Kennemer
The People Group, LLC
Office 888.797.9992
kevin@thepeoplegroupllc.com

Do you remember that Pantene commercial in the 1980’s when the girl in the shower said, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” Don’t worry, when you are in the job market, employers in most cases will love you when you are beautiful.  Advertisers know that sex sells stuff.  Sex appeal helps those in the job market as well.  Bottom line, beautiful people go to the front of the employment line.

Have you ever been seated in the lobby of a doctor’s office and watched as the pharmaceutical sales representatives wait for their appointment? I have noticed I would not qualify for their job.  First, most are beautiful women.  You know, the kind of women who could wear a feedsack and still look terrific. Secondly, the pill selling men could pose for GQ Magazine.  Does this give you a comfort feeling? Could it be our trusted doctors and their staff prescribe the latest medicine based on the good looks of the pharmaceutical company’s sales staff?  “Oh, I think that blonde rep. is so hot. If I prescribe tons of Zoloft maybe she will go out with me.”

Overweight People Must Work Harder
I remember a comedian telling his audience, “Fat people have to work harder.”  Overweight comedians might be funny but in the office it’s not so comical.  You remember elementary school? Children are brutally honest and will routinely make fun of overweight kids. Bullying might be a better term for this. Those same bully kids who called fellow students “fatso” grew up and now work in the corner office.

If you are overweight and/or beauty challenged, working relationships might get a little rough for you in the workplace.  You might have to produce more than your beautiful and thin coworkers to obtain the respect they garner.

Timeout
At this point I suspect those who feel overweight or not-so-beautiful understand this article. I am saying things people know but just don’t verbalize in writing. If you are a workplace beauty, on the other hand, you may not be convinced you have an upper-hand in the career game. Some good-looking women may feel they are discriminated against because they are too good looking.  I suppose that could happen too.  According to CNN.com, a recent study has shown attractive people earn five percent more than their average-looking counterparts. Let’s move on.

My Story
Before you come unglued and think I am totally insensitive and have lost my mind, let me tell you my story. Keep in mind I am a workplace consultant and this is my line of work; organizational behavior.  Neither do I consider myself outwardly good-looking or thin. In other words, I am not meddling.

One time a businessman told me I needed to lose weight.  Was he concerned about my health? No, he was concerned about his image.  He simply was trying to gain a political advantage over me. Besides, at the time I did not even consider myself to be overweight. And secondly, my weight was none of his business!

Several years later a CEO mentioned to me I had gained some weight and I needed to lose it.  At the time I was dealing with some personal issues and had actually gained some weight, however, that kind of advice should never be given by an employer.  A spouse can give this kind of feedback.  Even if it is your spouse, tread very carefully.  Guys, did you hear me?

Business leaders, I do not recommend telling an employee, “Hey, do you know we have an on-site workout facility? I suggest you use it and lose some weight.”  This creates an unfriendly, if not hostile, work environment.  Overweight people rarely take advice from ridiculously thin people who constantly eat Ho Hos and drink real Pepsi like the world is coming to an end.

Beauty, Weight and Disability Challenges
Beauty, weight and disabilities are all areas where employers should tread carefully.  Keep in mind I am talking ethics, not laws. It is perfectly legal to discriminate against ugly and overweight people in the U.S.  However, it is not ethical.

Who gets invited to the company’s annual report photo shoot?  Beautiful employees.

Who receives an invitation to the employee benefits video filming? Beautiful employees.

Who receives second and third notices about the weight watchers program? Overweight employees.

Are weight management programs realistically for the health of the employee or under the radar company image compliance programs? You guessed it. Workplace health programs are typically aimed at thinning up overweight people and improving the company’s outward image.

Serious About Healthy Workplaces?
Maintaining a healthy weight is a good, individual goal. However, if companies were truly concerned about the health of their employees, they should fire their workplace bullies who cause, anxiety, fear, clinical depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and a host of other costly medical and business expenses.  I suspect workplace bullies cost as much if not more in turnover, time off, business interruption expenses and cause nervous people to overeat than overweight people cost the company’s medical and time-off plan.

Legal to Discriminate
Did you know it is perfectly legal to discriminate based on good looks in most U.S. jurisdictions? There are companies who seem to be unusually focused on the outward appearance of the employee.  These employers are not simply concerned with an applicant’s wardrobe, social and job skills, they are enamored by beauty, attractiveness and good looks, both male and female.

Eye Candy as Requisite Skill
I once met an executive who demanded the company’s receptionist be hired as eye candy for the other executives.  Was this an illegal demand? No, it was not illegal but certainly an unethical hiring practice if one is not basing hiring decisions on skills and capabilities.  In America, it is perfectly legal to hire only beautiful people and drop kick ugly and overweight applicants, assuming the beauties have the requisite skills.

Outward Appearance vs. Inward Character
Sunday School teaches you a great deal about life when you are young. When I was a young boy I remember being taught an Old Testament scripture. It comforts me to know that according to the Bible’s teachings, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” In the game of life, people may look at our outward appearance but God looks at our inner character.

I suspect the Great Workplaces across America have also tapped into the character of employees rather than their outward appearance.  Great character comes in all shapes and sizes.  As an employer, I would much rather recruit those with high moral character, a servant’s heart, a strong work ethic and the desire to treat all people with trust and respect. It’s what is inside that really matters.

Why Open this Can of Worms?
With the rising unemployment rate there will be increased competition as more workers apply for fewer jobs.  It is likely many unemployed workers will be unprepared for the new wave of vanity that will sweep across American workplaces.  You have heard, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I submit to you, beauty and jobs are in the eye of the employer.

This is why you should choose your employer carefully.  I suggest you start with the Fortune 100 Best Companies To Work For List.  They are not perfect but are likely better than those not on the list.

Watch for another upcoming article on this topic on The People Group Blog, assuming there is not a contract killing placed on me by a good-looking assassin.