{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-291.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-291.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-291.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-291.4.html"}],"law_id":55973,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55973,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-291.4","catch_line":"Bullying and abusive work environments prohibited","history":"2013, c. 575; 2018, c. 488; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 450.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Abusive conduct” means conduct of a school board employee in the workplace that a reasonable person would find hostile and that is severe enough to cause physical harm or psychological harm to another school board employee based on a determination in which the following factors are considered: the severity, nature, and frequency of the conduct and, when applicable, the continuation of the conduct after a school board employee requests that it cease or demonstrates outward signs of physical harm or psychological harm in the face of the conduct. “Abusive conduct” includes verbal or physical conduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or humiliating; the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of another school board employee’s work performance; attempts to exploit another school board employee’s known psychological or physical vulnerability; or repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, or epithets. “Abusive conduct” does not include (i) a single act, unless it is especially severe, or (ii) conduct that the school board proves with clear and convincing evidence is necessary for the furtherance of its legitimate and lawful interests.\n\t\t\t“Abusive work environment” means a workplace in a school division in which abusive conduct occurs.\n\t\t\t“Physical harm” means a material impairment of a school board employee’s physical health or bodily integrity, as documented by a licensed physician or another licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t“Psychological harm” means a material impairment of a school board employee’s mental health, as documented by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist or another licensed mental health care provider.B\n\nEach school board shall implement policies and procedures to educate school board employees about bullying, as defined in § 22.1-276.01, and the need to create a bully-free environment.C\n\nEach school board shall adopt policies to:1\n\nProhibit abusive work environments in the school division;2\n\nProvide for the appropriate discipline of any school board employee who contributes to an abusive work environment; and3\n\nProhibit retaliation or reprisal against a school board employee who alleges an abusive work environment or assists in the investigation of an allegation of an abusive work environment.D\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to limit a school board’s authority to adopt policies to prohibit any other type of workplace conduct as the school board deems necessary.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205011,"text":"As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Abusive conduct” means conduct of a school board employee in the workplace that a reasonable person would find hostile and that is severe enough to cause physical harm or psychological harm to another school board employee based on a determination in which the following factors are considered: the severity, nature, and frequency of the conduct and, when applicable, the continuation of the conduct after a school board employee requests that it cease or demonstrates outward signs of physical harm or psychological harm in the face of the conduct. “Abusive conduct” includes verbal or physical conduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or humiliating; the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of another school board employee’s work performance; attempts to exploit another school board employee’s known psychological or physical vulnerability; or repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, or epithets. “Abusive conduct” does not include (i) a single act, unless it is especially severe, or (ii) conduct that the school board proves with clear and convincing evidence is necessary for the furtherance of its legitimate and lawful interests.\n\t\t\t“Abusive work environment” means a workplace in a school division in which abusive conduct occurs.\n\t\t\t“Physical harm” means a material impairment of a school board employee’s physical health or bodily integrity, as documented by a licensed physician or another licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t“Psychological harm” means a material impairment of a school board employee’s mental health, as documented by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist or another licensed mental health care provider.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":205012,"text":"Each school board shall implement policies and procedures to educate school board employees about bullying, as defined in § 22.1-276.01, and the need to create a bully-free environment.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":205013,"text":"Each school board shall adopt policies to:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"3":{"id":205014,"text":"Prohibit abusive work environments in the school division;","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"4":{"id":205015,"text":"Provide for the appropriate discipline of any school board employee who contributes to an abusive work environment; and","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1","next_prefix":"C3"},"5":{"id":205016,"text":"Prohibit retaliation or reprisal against a school board employee who alleges an abusive work environment or assists in the investigation of an allegation of an abusive work environment.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"C3","prefix_anchor":"C3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C2","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":205017,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a school board’s authority to adopt policies to prohibit any other type of workplace conduct as the school board deems necessary.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12825,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12824,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":182873,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12825,"identifier":"1","token":"22.1\/15\/1","url":"\/22.1\/15\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12824,"edition_id":1,"name":"Teachers, Officers and Employees","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":182871,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12824,"identifier":"15","token":"22.1\/15","url":"\/22.1\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73824,"structure_id":12825,"section_number":"22.1-289.1","catch_line":"Teacher compensation; 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This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 575<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2018, chapter 488<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63952,"section_number":"8.01-220.1:2","catch_line":"Civil immunity for teachers under certain circumstances","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-220.1_2\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":77797,"section_number":"22.1-276.01","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-276.01\/"}],"permalink":{"id":182931,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55973,"identifier":"22.1-291.4","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.4","url":"\/22.1-291.4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-291.4\/","token":"22.1\/15\/1\/22.1-291.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Bullying and abusive work environments prohibited","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-291.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Abusive conduct<\/span>” means conduct of a school board<\/span> employee in the workplace that a reasonable person would find hostile and that is severe enough to cause physical harm<\/span> or psychological harm<\/span> to another school board<\/span> employee based on a determination in which the following factors are considered: the severity, nature, and frequency of the conduct and, when applicable, the continuation of the conduct after a school board<\/span> employee requests that it cease or demonstrates outward signs of physical harm<\/span> or psychological harm<\/span> in the face of the conduct. “Abusive conduct<\/span>” includes verbal or physical conduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or humiliating; the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of another school board<\/span> employee’s work performance; attempts to exploit another school board<\/span> employee’s known psychological or physical vulnerability; or repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, or epithets. “Abusive conduct<\/span>” does not include (i) a single act, unless it is especially severe, or (ii) conduct that the school board<\/span> proves with clear and convincing evidence<\/span> is necessary for the furtherance of its legitimate and lawful interests.\n\t\t\t“Abusive work environment<\/span>” means a workplace in a school division in which abusive conduct<\/span> occurs.\n\t\t\t“Physical harm<\/span>” means a material<\/span> impairment of a school board<\/span> employee’s physical health or bodily integrity, as documented by a licensed physician or another licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t“Psychological harm<\/span>” means a material<\/span> impairment of a school board<\/span> employee’s mental health, as documented by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist or another licensed mental health care provider. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Each school board<\/span> shall implement policies and procedures to educate school board<\/span> employees about bullying, as defined in § 22.1-276.01<\/a>, and the need to create a bully-free environment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Each school board<\/span> shall adopt policies to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Prohibit abusive work environments<\/span> in the school division; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Provide for the appropriate discipline of any school board<\/span> employee who contributes to an abusive work environment<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Prohibit retaliation or reprisal against a school board<\/span> employee who alleges an abusive work environment<\/span> or assists in the investigation of an allegation<\/span> of an abusive work environment<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a school board<\/span>’s authority to adopt policies to prohibit any other type of workplace conduct as the school board<\/span> deems necessary. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBULLYING AND ABUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS PROHIBITED (\u00a7 22.1-291.4)\n\nA. As used in this section:\n\t\t\t“Abusive conduct” means conduct of a school board employee in the\nworkplace that a reasonable person would find hostile and that is severe enough\nto cause physical harm or psychological harm to another school board employee\nbased on a determination in which the following factors are considered: the\nseverity, nature, and frequency of the conduct and, when applicable, the\ncontinuation of the conduct after a school board employee requests that it cease\nor demonstrates outward signs of physical harm or psychological harm in the face\nof the conduct. “Abusive conduct” includes verbal or physical\nconduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or\nhumiliating; the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of another school board\nemployee’s work performance; attempts to exploit another school board\nemployee’s known psychological or physical vulnerability; or repeated\ninfliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, or\nepithets. “Abusive conduct” does not include (i) a single act,\nunless it is especially severe, or (ii) conduct that the school board proves\nwith clear and convincing evidence is necessary for the furtherance of its\nlegitimate and lawful interests.\n\t\t\t“Abusive work environment” means a workplace in a school division\nin which abusive conduct occurs.\n\t\t\t“Physical harm” means a material impairment of a school board\nemployee’s physical health or bodily integrity, as documented by a\nlicensed physician or another licensed health care provider.\n\t\t\t“Psychological harm” means a material impairment of a school\nboard employee’s mental health, as documented by a licensed psychologist,\npsychiatrist, or psychotherapist or another licensed mental health care\nprovider.\n\nB. Each school board shall implement policies and procedures to educate school\nboard employees about bullying, as defined in § 22.1-276.01, and the need\nto create a bully-free environment.\n\nC. Each school board shall adopt policies to:\n\n 1. Prohibit abusive work environments in the school division;\n\n 2. Provide for the appropriate discipline of any school board employee who\n contributes to an abusive work environment; and\n\n 3. Prohibit retaliation or reprisal against a school board employee who\n alleges an abusive work environment or assists in the investigation of an\n allegation of an abusive work environment.\n\nD. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a school board’s\nauthority to adopt policies to prohibit any other type of workplace conduct as\nthe school board deems necessary.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, c. 575; 2018, c. 488; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 450.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}