Patricia Barnes is an expert on employment discrimination and workplace abuse. She is a former judge, attorney, author, consultant to workers and employers, and the editor of a syndicated employment law blog, When the Abuser Goes to Work. She has been quoted in many national publications, from The New York Times to Fast Company. A former senior contributor at Forbes, she is available for interviews, speaking engagements, etc. Email: barnespatg at gmail.com.
“Patricia G. Barnes [is] an attorney and nationally known expert on employment discrimination and workplace abuse.”
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
WORKPLACE BULLYING AND ABUSE
Ms. Barnes is the author of SURVIVING BULLIES, QUEEN BEES & PSYCHOPATHS IN THE WORKPLACE, the best-selling legal guide to the problem of workplace bullying and abuse in the United States. Workplace bullying costs employers billions each year in higher health care costs, absenteeism and needless turnover. It can poison the morale of a company and is at the core of many discrimination and harassment complaints. This book helps employers understand, address and prevent workplace abuse. Workers will recognize and understand the problem so they can take constructive action to save their jobs and avoid damage to their mental and physical health. The book has garnered numerous five-star reviews from prominent workplace bullying experts on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Dr. Alan A. Cavaiolo, co-author of Toxic Coworkers (2000), recommended Surviving Bullies, Queen Bees & Psychopaths in the Workplace, in Welcome to the 18th Century, Psychology Today (2014).
COPING IN A DIFFICULT WORKPLACE
TRANSCEND YOUR BOSS: ZEN AND THE DIFFICULT WORKPLACE advocates the use of Zen theory and the time tested path of meditation to survive in a hostile workplace environment. It is the first book on this topic.
Overwhelming research shows that severe stress at work causes mental and physical harm and the longer it continues, the worse the harm. Many victims of workplace abuse and discrimination suffer post-traumatic stress for years afterwards.
Zen theory and meditation offer workers relief from debilitating stress, as well as greater clarity and focus. It helps embattled workers refrain from hitting the send button on an incendiary email that can be used against them by a bullying supervisor. Workers gain time and perspective to address the problem of workplace bullying in a positive and appropriate manner.
AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT
OVERCOMING AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WORKERS, ADVOCATES & EMPLOYERS is an essential resource to help employers avoid costly litigation and needless risk and to retain high-quality workers in an increasingly competitive environment. Older workers will learn ways to recognize, confront and overcome age discrimination.
The book follows Ms. Barnes’ groundbreaking book, BETRAYED: THE LEGALIZATION OF AGE DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE, which was called a “must read for everyone over 40” by David Godfrey director of the ABA Commission on Law and Aging.
Ms. Barnes argues the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) was weak to begin with and has been eviscerated by the U.S. Supreme Court. Older workers literally are second class citizens under current U.S. law. Fifty years after the ADEA’s passage, age discrimination remains epidemic, hidden behind terms such as “long-term unemployment” and “early retirement.” And the problem is trickling down to ever younger workers. Even workers in their 30s experience age discrimination in some industries, such as the high tech industry in Silicon Valley.
Age discrimination is problematic for younger workers but it can be a devastating life-altering catastrophe for older workers. They often are plunged into long-term unemployment, forced to take poorly-paid, part-time or temp work, and then forced into early retirement, which can lead to poverty or near poverty for the rest of their lives.
EMPLOYMENT LAW BLOGS
- When the Abuser Goes to Work offers extensive resources to workers and employers on the problem of workplace discrimination, bullying and abuse. This blog is syndicated by Newstex, which provides news and commentary from the “world’s best authoritative sources.”
- Age Discrimination in Employment explores legal developments with respect to age discrimination and the systemic inequality of older workers under U.S. law.
SELECTED ARTICLES, ETC.
Ms Barnes has been interviewed by many national publications, including the New York Times, Bloomberg (several interviews behind a paywall), USA Today, AARP, SHRM (several interviews), NBC, CNBC, Vox (several interviews), Fast Company, Bustle, National Public Radio, Cleverism, OZY, ChangingAging, Project Management, etc. See also American Legal News, An Interview with Patricia G. Barnes, J.D., How the AARP Fleeces Consumers and Ignores Rampant Workplace Age Discrimination, by Lynn Shapiro (2/25/19).
Additionally:
- She is the author of Workplace Bullying: When the Abuser Goes to Work, Family & Intimate Partner Violence Quarterly, edited by Mo Therese Hannah, Ph.D. (Vol. 6 #2,Fall 2013); An Epidemic of Age Discrimination, American Society on Aging, 1/21/15; Prescription for an Impoverished Retirement, International Federation on Aging, 11/6/14; “Second Class Citizenship for Older Workers,” Today’s Workplace, 10/22/14.
- Ms. Barnes co-founded the National Workplace Bullying Coalition (2014) and was a moderator at the Coalition’s first conference at Rutger’s University, NJ.
- Ms. Barnes wrote two books for CQ Press: CQ’s Desk Reference on American Criminal Justice and CQ’s Desk Reference on the American Courts ; edited a three-volume series of books, Domestic Violence: From a Private Matter to a Federal Offense; and, contributed to Back Off! Your Kick-Ass Guide to Ending Bullying @ Work, by co-authors Catherine Mattice and E.G. Sebastian (7/ 2012).
- She was a regular contributor to The ABA Journal and has written articles for many national publications, including Salon, Newsweek and The National Law Journal.
And now for something completely different…
A fascinating exploration of book dedications – Tender, Tawdry & Timeless Book Dedications (2015).
