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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55973</law_id><section_number>22.1-291.4</section_number><catch_line>Bullying and abusive work environments prohibited</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-220.1:2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="22.1">Education</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="15">Teachers, Officers and Employees</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Abusive conduct</span>&#x201D; means conduct of a <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee in the workplace that a reasonable person would find hostile and that is severe enough to cause <span class="dictionary">physical harm</span> or <span class="dictionary">psychological harm</span> to another <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee requests that it cease or demonstrates outward signs of <span class="dictionary">physical harm</span> or <span class="dictionary">psychological harm</span> in the face of the conduct. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Abusive conduct</span>&#x201D; includes verbal or physical conduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or humiliating; the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of another <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee&#x2019;s work performance; attempts to exploit another <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee&#x2019;s known psychological or physical vulnerability; or repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, or epithets. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Abusive conduct</span>&#x201D; does not include (i) a single act, unless it is especially severe, or (ii) conduct that the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> proves with clear and convincing <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> is necessary for the furtherance of its legitimate and lawful interests.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Abusive work environment</span>&#x201D; means a workplace in a school division in which <span class="dictionary">abusive conduct</span> occurs.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Physical harm</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">material</span> impairment of a <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee&#x2019;s physical health or bodily integrity, as documented by a licensed physician or another licensed health care provider.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Psychological harm</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">material</span> impairment of a <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee&#x2019;s mental health, as documented by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychotherapist or another licensed mental health care provider. <a id="paragraph-205011" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall implement policies and procedures to educate <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employees about bullying, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/22.1-276.01/">22.1-276.01</a>, and the need to create a bully-free environment. <a id="paragraph-205012" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall adopt policies to: <a id="paragraph-205013" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Prohibit <span class="dictionary">abusive work environments</span> in the school division; <a id="paragraph-205014" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Provide for the appropriate discipline of any <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee who contributes to an <span class="dictionary">abusive work environment</span>; and <a id="paragraph-205015" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Prohibit retaliation or reprisal against a <span class="dictionary">school board</span> employee who alleges an <span class="dictionary">abusive work environment</span> or assists in the investigation of an <span class="dictionary">allegation</span> of an <span class="dictionary">abusive work environment</span>. <a id="paragraph-205016" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a <span class="dictionary">school board</span>&#x2019;s authority to adopt policies to prohibit any other type of workplace conduct as the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> deems necessary. <a id="paragraph-205017" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-291.4/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2013, c. 575; 2018, c. 488; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 450.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
