Hostile Workplace? 10 Signs You Work With an Abusive Bully, Boss Or Co-Worker
Did you know that experts estimate more than one in three U.S. workers have been mistreated severely enough at work that their health has been damaged? That’s 54 million people! This is according to a 2007 Zogby International survey.
Many employees privately complain that their company won’t stop bullying bosses or retrain them to treat employees with respect. It may be easier to ignore the problem of abusive supervisors, but in the end the company will lose money from its passive approach to this workplace problem.
Companies that do not address the problem of workplace bullies do pay a price. Such companies suffer higher employee turnover, higher absenteeism, and more frequent workers compensation claims. Furthermore, a severe bully boss will damage a company’s ability to recruit new people and its reputation in the community. Word does get around about who likes their job and who does not, and why.
Many people are painfully aware that they are being bullied by their boss at work. Others, however, do not understand what is happening to them. These people feel confused, scared, and don’t know where to turn for help with their undiagnosed problem. If you think you might be in this latter group, here are ten signs that you are being bullied and abused at work. Read through them and see if you recognize your own work situation in these descriptions.
You Are Being Bullied and Abused At Work If:
* You are physically sick the night before the start of every workweek
* You have a history of positive appraisals and solid work performance, but if feels like your boss or co-worker never stops criticizing your work and you personally
* Your boss or co-worker yells at you, insults you, or otherwise humiliates you in front of other people at work
* You are accused of making errors when you did not
* A manager or supervisor continually brings up past mistakes as a type of club to hit you with – not in a constructive manner to help you improve
* Someone at work quietly tells gossipy lies about you or your job performance
* You boss freezes you out of his or her “circle” by moving your desk, not including you on meetings or even social lunches
* On your days off work you feel exhausted and lifeless, or you spend time away from work obsessing about work
* Your boss tries to make you fail, by not reviewing or signing off on your work, shuffling your schedule or calling meetings when he or she knows you have a conflict
* When you succeed at work despite your boss, he or she takes the credit for your success (but always blames you for the failures)
If you think you may work in a hostile work place caused by a bully boss or co-worker, you can learn to fight back by firmly asserting your legal rights. http://www.undercoverlawyer.com – Hostile Workplace
The Undercover Lawyer, Curt K, is a practicing employment attorney and adjunct professor of business law in a regional MBA program.
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