Isosceles Presents Workplace Bullying Paper at Conference

The 16th World Congress of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA), set against the psychological backdrop of the recession and the physical backdrop of historic Philadelphia, Pa., brought hundreds of international and United States attendees together to discuss advancements in labor and employment relations around the world over the July 4th holiday week.  Janice Bellace, President of ILERA, LERA member and A Professor of Legal Studies at the Wharton School, welcomed conference attendees from countries including Korea, Turkey, Israel, South Africa, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, Nigeria, the United States, Mexico, Malawi, Taiwan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The theme of this World Congress was Beyond Borders: Governance of Work in a Global Economy. The theme was based on the recognition that the integration of national economies through transnational markets, the development of new technologies, and growing institutional linkages are reaching new levels beyond a national level.

Ellen P. Cobb, a Senior Regulatory and Legal Analyst at our Boston office, presented a paper “Workplace Bullying: A Global Health and Safety Issue” at a refereed paper session.  Her presentation covered the state of workplace bullying around the world, including its definitions, prevalence, costs, and recent developments.  Ellen has been tracking global laws and developments related to this emerging health and safety issue over the last few years.

The ILERA World Congress produced four days of provocative and informative discussions of sustainability, diversity, technology and corporate social responsibility as well as roles for labor organizations and government around the world in response to the global financial crisis. The 17th World Congress will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in September 2015 and hosted by the Industrial Relations Association of South Africa.