BY NIKKI ADEBIYI, FOUNDER @ BOUNCE BLACK
This International Stand Up To Bullying Day feels different.
Although bullying has never been, and will never be, acceptable, the recent death of Dr. Candia-Bailey, for me, makes the clarion call for change a lot louder. And for good reason because no one should be made to feel so miserable that they consider the only way out is to tap out of life.
Enough is enough.
As people around the world continue to open up about their workplace bullying experiences, as I did here and here, it’s important that we don’t stop at sharing our stories. They are important for raising awareness, building a collective voice and cultivating empathy.
But we mustn’t stop there.
We must demand and work towards change until there is nothing to raise awareness about.
As society is increasingly turning its attention to the urgency of action around workplace bullying, let’s support and amplify the good work being done to make those changes a reality.
Here’s a list to start you off:
Bounce Black
At Bounce Black, we’re all about the intersection of race, mental health and social mobility. While we know that workplace abuse knows no colour, we also know that workplace trauma has different overtones and implications for Black people. So, in addition to events and campaigns, we’re building a library of resources right here on the website to support our community.
Can’t Buy My Silence
Can’t Buy My Silence is a campaign dedicated to ending the misuse of NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) to silence victims of harassment, discrimination or abuse. Founded by Zelda Perkins (Harvey Weinstein’s former assistant) and Prof. Julie Macfarlane (University of Windsor) in September 2021, inspired by their own troubling experiences with NDAs, the campaign aims to ensure that NDAs are only used for their intended purpose: protecting intellectual property and trade secrets. They encourage participation through sharing your stories of NDA misuse, signing petitions for legislative change, writing to MPs and urging universities and businesses to pledge against improper NDA use. While primarily operating in the UK and Canada, the campaign strives to create a global movement against NDA misuse.
Conduct Change
Conduct Change, established in 2019 by founder Nicki Eyre, specializes in consultancy and training solutions to prevent workplace bullying. Their approach is guided by partnerships with academics and experts. They offer Workplace Bullying Training with a focus on awareness and prevention using a trauma-informed approach. The organization was founded in response to the increasing evidence of workplace bullying and aims to address gaps in legislation. They also run the Stop Hurt at Work campaign, researching and advocating for effective routes to redress for individuals affected by workplace bullying, as well as collaborating with lawyers and legislators to improve legal protections.
Dignity Together
Dignity Together, founded by Deb Falzoi, who is also known for hosting the Screw the Hierarchy podcast and co-authoring the Workplace Psychological Safety Act, provides support for individuals experiencing workplace abuse. They offer both one-on-one and group coaching services. Additionally, the organization hosts events and advocates for legislative change. Their efforts have garnered support from over 10,000 people in their push for legal reform.
End Workplace Abuse
End Workplace Abuse works to protect workers’ mental health by fighting against workplace bullying, harassment, and mobbing. They advocate for laws and policies to create safer workplaces, raise awareness about psychological harm, train leaders to promote abuse-free environments, and collaborate with other worker rights organizations. They also push for protections against discrimination.
Lift Our Voices
Lift Our Voices (LOV) is a nonprofit founded in 2019 by Gretchen Carlson and Julie Rognisky, both of whom experienced workplace toxicity. Their mission is to create safer and fairer American workplaces by advocating for survivors, changing laws and policies, and promoting awareness. LOV spearheads federal laws, campaigns for workers’ rights, conducts research on the impact of silencing mechanisms, and educates policymakers. They collaborate with organizations, workers, elected officials, and other stakeholders to end the use of silencing mechanisms because “every worker deserves a voice.”
My Silence Is Not For Sale
My Silence Is Not For Sale, founded by Andrea Morehead, a 7-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor, is a podcast that addresses workplace hostility, micro-aggressions, and gaslighting. Drawing from her 35 years of experience in the television news industry, Andrea facilitates candid conversations and offers solutions. The podcast aims to create a movement, providing a safe space for those silently suffering from workplace toxicity. By advocating for improved discrimination laws and holding both employees and employers accountable, the podcast strives to improve workplace culture. She believes that “thriving in life is not a privilege, it’s your birthright”.
Silenced No More
The Silenced No More Foundation is a peer-to-peer online support network for employee whistleblowers and victims of workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Founded by Stephanie Van de Motter, a whistleblower herself, the Foundation aims to empower employees by connecting them with resources and support from others who have experienced similar challenges. They recognize the courage it takes to speak out against unethical behavior and seek to ensure whistleblowers’ legal rights are respected. Through educational resources, emotional support, and connections with advocates, they aim to fortify resilience and amplify the voices of those who speak truth to power.
Speak Out Revolution
The Speak Out Revolution, founded in 2020, aims to “cancel the culture of silence” surrounding workplace harassment and bullying. Through their Speak Out Survey (included at the bottom of this page), individuals can anonymously share their experiences, which are then collated into the Speak Out Dashboard for advocacy purposes. With over 1000 participants already, they emphasize the importance of data-driven change and encourage others to share their stories to drive transformation. Led by Frances Holmes (CEO) and Marie Hemingway (CTO), they prioritize disruptive, data-driven strategic change and transparency in their mission to empower targets of workplace harassment and bullying.
VENT
VENT, founded by Kasia Musur in 2022, is a collaboration hub focused on reducing the impact of toxic leadership. It brings together people from different fields to create solutions. VENT collects stories from individuals who have experienced toxic leadership anonymously. They aim to provide a safe space for people to talk about their experiences and use these stories to research and raise awareness about toxic leadership. Their goal is to develop tools and tech solutions to address this issue and prevent it from being normalized in the workplace.
The Workplace Bullying Institute
The Workplace Bullying Institute is a leading organization dedicated to addressing and combating workplace bullying. They provide resources, support, and advocacy for individuals who have experienced bullying in the workplace. Founded by Dr. Gary Namie and Dr. Ruth Namie in 1997, the institute conducts research, offers training and consultation services, and raises awareness about the issue of workplace bullying. Their mission is to create safer and healthier work environments by promoting policies and practices that prevent and address workplace bullying. Through their efforts, they aim to empower individuals and organizations to take action against workplace bullying and foster positive workplace cultures.
Bounce Black 
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