In this episode of They Tried It, host Lindiwe Davis sits down with Kim Williams—founder of the Fair Path Project and longtime HR leader—to unpack the realities of workplace bullying, psychological safety, and what really happens behind closed HR doors.

Workplace abuse affects millions of employees every year. Yet most people are told to “toughen up,” stay quiet, or accept toxic behavior as part of corporate culture. Kim pulls back the curtain on what HR is trained to do, where the system fails, and how employees can protect themselves when they realize they are on their own.

Drawing from her experience in federal HR, corporate environments, and legislative advocacy, Kim shares:

• Why workplace abuse should be treated like a life-threatening emergency
• How cortisol, stress, and trauma manifest physically and impact families
• Why most harassment claims fail under current civil rights law
• How to document incidents the right way (and why emotion-free language matters)
• What to include in a formal complaint to HR
• Why you should involve your doctor and create an external medical record
• How to build a timeline and preserve evidence before it disappears
• What HR departments should be doing differently
• Why courage is contagious—and how speaking up changes culture

Kim also discusses her work supporting the Workplace Psychological Safety Act and the urgent need for accountability in organizations where leadership protects liability over people.

One of the most powerful takeaways from this conversation:

“It’s only scary the first time.”

Whether you’re navigating a toxic workplace, questioning how to file a complaint, or wondering why nothing seems to change when abuse is reported, this episode offers clarity, strategy, and validation.

You deserve to do meaningful work without fear, retaliation, or harm.

About Our Guest

Kim Williams is the founder of the Fair Path Project, an initiative dedicated to helping employees navigate workplace bullying and abuse. With years of experience in HR leadership and legislative advocacy, she now works full-time to expose systemic failures and provide practical tools for documentation, accountability, and self-protection.

Learn more: www.fairpathproject.com

Explore resources: inworkplaceabuse.org

About the Host

Lindiwe is a sought-after speaker, interviewer, and culture strategist across several industries, known for bridging theory and practice through storytelling and lived experience. With over 25 years of experience spanning leadership development, organizational effectiveness, coaching, and media storytelling, she is the founder of FutureState Collective—the culture and media platform that produces They Tried It.

Learn more about Lindiwe and view her media kit here.

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