President Napolitano issues guidance to address bullying

Colleagues,

To improve the working climate for UC staff, you may recall that earlier this year President Napolitano formed a working group to help address abusive behavior and bullying. In the attached letter, President Napolitano reminds us that the University does not tolerate abusive conduct or bullying.

To clarify what bullying is and how to address it, she has developed Presidential Guidance. UC has adopted the state Legislature's definition of bullying and abusive conduct. Assembly Bill 2053, which requires training on the prevention of abusive conduct, defines abusive conduct as “conduct of an employer or employee in the workplace, with malice, that a reasonable person would find hostile, offensive, and unrelated to an employer's legitimate business interests.”

In addition to clarifying policies regarding bullying, the Presidential Guidance provides best practices with regard to bullying prevention, the identification of abusive conduct in the workplace, and the resources available to staff when such incidents arise.

Please read President Napolitano's letter, which is attached, and the attachment containing her Presidential Guidance and the working group's report.

If you experience abusive conduct or bullying, please contact the ANR Human Resources Employee and Labor Relations team: Robert Martinez, at (530) 752-3467 or ramartinez@ucanr.edu, or Mary Roberts at (530) 750-1321 or maroberts@ucanr.edu.

John Fox
Executive Director of Human Resources

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