Workplace bullying: Monsters at work

[David Baxter PhD]

Monsters at work
Health Psych Blog
Sept. 12, 2008

I'm amazed at the number of people I'm currently seeing who are suffering some degree of post-traumatic stress from events in the workplace. Practical Man also experienced something similar a little while back. With 25 years of service under his belt, his immediate boss was told to do whatever she could to 'get him out'. They made his life hell in many ways. We had to seek legal advice. Eventually, the immediate boss left. For now, all seems fine but that's only on the surface.

Workplace bullying relates to the ill-treatment of a person in the workplace by one or more other people. The mistreatment need not be physical in nature but can involve:

• verbal abuse
• exclusion from social interaction
• restrictive and petty work rules
• threat of demotion or being fired
• sabotage of work
• unreasonable demands

among many other behaviours.

The consequences can be considerable. Stress, depression, anxiety, anger, withdrawal.

Like any form of bullying, it can be hard to take action against the perpetrators. However, employers have a duty to protect workers against this kind of behaviour.

If you find yourself in this situation, consider these useful hints from The Mental Health Association of NSW:

• As an initial step, explain to the person bullying you how their behaviour is making you feel and how you would like them to behave instead. This demonstrates that you have tried to resolve the problem and the person cannot claim they did not know.
• Ensure you document bullying incidents. Record what is happening, who is doing it and when.
• Contact your company's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if your company has one or otherwise the Human Resources department and consider making a formal complaint.

While these steps make common sense, many people in this position lose confidence and feel powerless, consequently opting to walk away rather than take action. If you know someone in this position, be ready to lend a supportive ear and encourage them to seek help if necessary.

For more resources on workplace bullying:

• Reachout
• Workcover
• Working with Monsters

 

[Into The Light]

this is important info. thanks for posting.

 

[suewatters1]

This is exactly was is happening to me in the last 20 months. That is why my depression get so bad at times I wish I could die.

I don't even want to go to work tomorrow.

Sue

 

[Into The Light]

sue, you may want to follow the links and read up on it more to see what you can do about it. do you have a therapist you can talk to about this to help you cope and work together with to find a solution to the situation?

 

[suewatters1]

ITL I do have a therapist I talk to and now I am trying to get back into the CMHA for counseling also. I didn't realize what was happening to me was bullying.
How they watch over me while I work just waiting for me to make a mistake. The lead hand was mad at me the other day when I told her that my medical restriction due to a work relate injury was severe so I can't do much and she was really mad and my boss was right next to me saying she did bring a note in from the physio therapist FAF(Functional Abilities Form).
She thinks if she can do jobs with no problem everybody should be able to do it also. She says stuff like what's the problem? Why can't you do it? it's not hard. We can't keep having the production line stop. If you can't do your job will just have to move you.

She makes my life miserable and there are others also.

Sue