Timothy Dimoff Blog on HR, Security and Motivation

How Bullying Happens to People with Disabilities

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. However, when mainstream media focuses on the bullying epidemic in our society, teenagers’ stories are traditionally publicized. The most tragic stories usually involve teens who seemingly have everything to live for takes their own life after being mercilessly bullied by peers. These stories of teenage suicide cause outrage because almost everyone can put themselves in the parent’s shoes. However, the people most vulnerable to bullies in modern society are those with disabilities. These are the silent, defenseless victims who are often quick to trust, making them the perfect targets for bullies. Someone with a physical, intellectual, or psychological disability is viewed as the perfect victim in the eyes of a bully because: They are more likely to “keep quiet” about the bullying for fear of making someone mad or not like them anymore....

How Diversity and Inclusion Can Drive Down Hidden Bias

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

Have you ever looked around your office and noticed that the managers are primarily men? The clerical workers are predominantly women? That you have very few people of color as employees? These observations may go unnoticed in the day-to-day work environment, but addressing these issues is the only way to change. What is Hidden Bias? It appears at the unconscious level based on upbringing, identity, culture, and mass media. It shapes the way you view people and how you behave towards them. These differences could include several characteristics, such as: height and weight, introversion and extroversion, marital status, disability status, foreign accents, hobbies and extracurricular activities, sexual identity, gender identity and race Hidden Bias Can Lead to a Tough Work Environment But how do these hidden biases lead to a non-diverse work environment? Think about the hiring process....

cyberbullying, stop cyberbullying, workplace bullying

Beware of a New Trend in Cyberbullying: Roasting

October 25, 2020October 25, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

Most adults are familiar with the entertainment version of the word “roasting.” Roasts are traditionally intended as lighthearted dinners where various guests take turns “roasting” a guest of honor with good-natured jokes at that person’s expense. The key here is the phrase “good-natured.” As we’ve all witnessed, it can get awkward and downright uncomfortable. A roast that turns from lighthearted to vicious is becoming all too common. Guess who’s catching onto it? Your teenagers. Too Young to Roast It all started with the hashtag #roastme. Teenagers would post a picture or video on a social media channel (i.e., Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, or a group text) of themselves with that hashtag. Like a traditional “roast,” they gave people consent to make funny comments about what they posted. However, like most things exposed online, the opportunity to post malicious, hurtful...

Workplace bullying, bullying at work, Timothy Dimoff

7 Steps to Stop Workplace Bullying

October 24, 2020October 24, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

Have you ever repeatedly experienced the following at work: Name-calling Shaming in public Intimidation Verbal abuse Pranks People leaving you out of conversations Managers giving you partial instructions or Having your work efforts sabotaged? If so, you’ve been bullied. Unfortunately, none of the behaviors listed above are illegal. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI), 19% of all US employees have been bullying victims. 61% of bullies are bosses, which correlates with the statistic that 65% of bullying victims are either fired or resign. Bullying, left unchecked, decreases workplace safety, increases absenteeism, and impacts employee morale. It creates a psychological power imbalance between the person doing the bullying and their target(s). Once the bully cements this imbalance, it’s virtually impossible to fix. 7 Action Steps to Stop a Bully Train employees to recognize bullying. Everyone in your organization...

workplace bullying, bullies at work, bullying, Timothy Dimoff

A Personal Account of Workplace Bullying

October 23, 2020October 25, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

By Mark Adam Capretta Workplace bullying is a real problem, it happens all over the place, and it isn’t easy to manage. I know from experience. My Experience I just proposed to my wife, and she was wearing the engagement ring that I was still making payments. I just started a contract job with a small painting company and was very excited to do some hard work and get that ring paid off, so I didn’t have to worry about it come the wedding day. Little did I know that being a new contractor, I was in for some very intensive on-the-job training. Every day that I painted, I had someone watching and swearing at me. When I did something wrong, it got even worse. I learned some valuable skills, but once I got that ring paid off, I...

Is There a Link Between Domestic Violence and Financial Stress? [Updated]

September 16, 2020September 17, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

Can Financial Stress Lead to Domestic Violence? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, families are seeing their financial situation worsening. Unemployment rates are high, evictions are occurring, and businesses are permanently closing. At the same time, domestic violence (DV) agencies were reporting an increase in calls from women in need. The Facts This increase, unfortunately, should not have been a surprise. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, domestic violence is actually three times more likely to occur when a couple is experiencing high financial stresses versus low financial stresses. Women whose male partners experienced two or more periods of unemployment in a five-year time span are almost three times as likely to be victims of DV as opposed to women whose partners are in stable jobs. We also saw a substantial increase during the Shelter at Home...

Road Rage: 5 Tried and Tested Ways to Avoid It [Updated]

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

In Florida, two men exchanged words in at an intersection, pull into a nearby parking lot, get out of their cars, and start beating on each other. One man has a knife. He stabs the other man in the face several times, and the knife victim is rushed to the hospital. In Wisconsin, a woman is teaching her teenage son to drive. They have a minor car crash. The driver of the other vehicle shoots her to death. In Georgia, a man runs over another person he thought was throwing golf balls at his car. Unfortunately, incidents like this are reported to law enforcement every day. How can these incidents be avoided? Where did these cases go seriously wrong? Statistics are Alarming According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 80% of polled drivers express severe aggression, anger, or...

coronavirus, COVID-19, coronavirus and the workplace

Coronavirus and The Workplace: Keeping You Safe and Healthy

March 27, 2020March 27, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

Whether you’re going into work every day or telecommuting, COVID-19 is on the minds of everyone. Here are common questions many employees are asking. Coronavirus and the Workplace Q&A My company has been deemed essential, yet I feel uncomfortable going into work. Can I work from home? The straight answer is no — your boss doesn’t have to allow you to telecommute. However, it often depends on what you do for the organization. If you work in a plant, you’ll have to report. However, if you’re in accounting or marketing, it’s possible to make a case to stay at home. On the flip side, your boss is making everyone work remotely. Do you have to oblige? Yes. Can my employer take my temperature at work? Under normal circumstances, the answer would be no because taking your temp is...

TikTok: A Social Media Magnet for Pedophiles and Predators?

February 28, 2020February 28, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

It’s a fact: China’s platform, TikTok, is a social media channel many young ladies between 13-24 engage with every day. In a short period, it has amassed more than 500 million worldwide users. TikTok allows users to create short, entertaining videos. What draws young girls to the platform? It may be that many of their friends are also on it. It’s entertaining to make lip-syncing and dancing videos they share with their fans. The personalized “For You” page keeps them returning as well. However, much like other platforms, it’s riddled with privacy holes. Of particular concern is the trolling of pedophiles and predators on this site. TikTok Troubles In February 2019, TikTok received a $5.7 million fine from the Federal Trade Commission for illegally collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 years old and selling...

Tomorrow is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day – Do you Know the Signs?

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020Tim DimoffLeave a comment

Every January 11th, we are tasked to learn more about human trafficking. Please take everything you think you know about it and throw it in the preverbal trash can. Human trafficking doesn’t happen exclusively in big cities, near international borders, or in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. It happens everywhere. Ohio has the fourth largest incidents of trafficking behind Florida, California, and Texas. In 2019, Ohio received a “C” grade by Shared Hope International regarding our state’s sex trafficking laws and prevention tactics. We are the only state that requires 16- or 17-year-olds to prove they were sex trafficking victims. However, the State Senate recently passed a bill that would rescind that clause. It’s awaiting passage in the House of Representatives. In Ohio: 80% are children who live in urban settings 67% are white, female teens 33% are African American Girls are...