Notes on Resilience 155: Breaking The Silence On Workplace Bullying, with Kim Williams
Silence protects bullies.
We sit down with Kim Williams—veteran HR executive, survivor of workplace abuse, and founder of the Fair Path Project—to unpack how brilliant jerks get shielded, why moral injury cuts deeper than most leaders realize, and what it takes to turn empathy into accountability.
Kim explains how fear operates at every level: employees fear retaliation, HR fears litigation, and executives fear losing a top performer. We examine the leverage that drives organizations—EPLI insurance exposure, workers' compensation for psychological harm, turnover costs, productivity loss, and even share price risk when toxic cultures are exposed in the press.
If you’ve ever wondered how to quantify the brilliant jerk tax, this conversation is for you.
We also explore policy as a catalyst. Current frameworks require proving intent, a bar so high it keeps most targets unprotected. The Workplace Psychological Safety Act reframes abuse by decoupling harm from intent and recognizing psychological injury as real, documentable damage.
Kim shares why hundreds of organizations support the effort and how advocates are engaging lawmakers to move beyond empathy-driven PR toward enforceable standards. Along the way, we find hope in Gen Z’s refusal to accept broken norms and in practical tools that automate documentation and surface patterns early.
If you’re an HR pro ready to lead, a manager looking for scripts that de-escalate, or an executive determined to protect both people and performance, this episode offers a clear playbook: care for your nervous system, document precisely, use leverage wisely, and act consistently.
Kim Williams is the speaker and advocate, spokesperson for End Workplace Abuse, and the founder of the Fair Path Project to confront the silent epidemic of workplace bullying and to help employees reclaim dignity at work. A veteran HR executive and survivor of workplace abuse, she witnessed firsthand how workplace culture, gaslighting, and retaliation harm not only individuals but entire organizations. Determined to create change, Kim transformed her lived experience into a mission of accountability and healing. She equips employees with tools to document abuse, protect their rights, and recover their confidence, while guiding employers toward cultures rooted in psychological safety and integrity.
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Producer / Editor: Neel Panji
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