Office gossip, bullying could soon be illegal in the Philippines with new bill
Psst... Have you heard, being a "Marites" in the workplace could soon be illegal in the Philippines?
On Friday, June 16, House Bill 8446 of 2023, or "Anti-Bullying in the Workplace Act," was filed in the House of Representatives to penalize individuals engaging in bullying, including spreading rumors or fake news, against others in the workplace.
In the bill authored by ACT-CIS party-list Representative Jocelyn Tulfo and her son Quezon City Congressman Wendel Tulfo, disciplinary actions shall be imposed on any government or private employee "offering, publishing, distributing, circulating or spreading rumors, false news, and information, gossip about" an employer, co-employee, or any person with whom they have professional relations or dealings.
Through the bill, employees who bully or engage in acts—whether in physical, written, verbal, or electronic form—to cause fear in a co-worker will likewise be penalized.
These acts include the following:
- Any unwanted physical contact between a person to an employer or co-employee causing physical harm
- Any act that causes harm to a victim's psycho and/or emotional and/or moral well-being
- Any slanderous statement that causes the victim emotional distress, such as foul language or profanity, name-calling, tormenting, and commenting negatively on the victim's looks, clothes, and body
- Gender-based bullying or any act that humiliates or excludes a person based on perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity
- Cyber-bullying any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means
According to the Tulfos, these policies were passed to promote a healthy working environment for every Filipino.
They explained, "Office bullying is commonly overlooked by many and considered part of the norm. This has become a systematic problem to many government and private offices in the country, with office bullying silently tormenting many Filipinos, often causing physical and mental distress."
"Adopting [these] policies would ensure every Filipino worker’s right to just and humane working conditions, mutual respect amongst employees and their employers, and dignity in their work,” they added.