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Subscribe to RSSThey may not be taking your lunch money anymore, but a new survey shows that bullies still exist in the grown-up world.
A little more than one-fourth of workers say they have felt bullied at the office, according to a survey released last week by job search site CareerBuilder.com. Women, workers under 24 and workers over 55 all reported slightly higher rates of bullying than the overall rate.
The workers surveyed said unfair treatment included being accused of mistakes they didn’t make, being harshly criticized and being forced into doing work that wasn’t their job.
Only about half of those who felt bullied said they confronted the bully. Of those who did confront the bully, about 40 percent said the bullying stopped. But about that same amount said the bullying stayed the same, and 13 percent said it got worse.
The results were based on a survey of more around 5,600 full-time workers conducted earlier this year by Harris Interactive.
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My boss treats people like dogs. He never says please or thank you. He gets on the intercom and screams... Fred!!! Sue!!!! Engineering now! Then he wonders why production sucks!!!!! The workforce calls him Dr. No because that is his answer for everything.
When he is gone on vacation production goes up and people smile again. Go figure.
The head honcho of our office is a rude SOB who discriminates ALL Spanish-speakers and therefore, if I open the door for him, I do not get a thank you nor if I say "good morning", but if the Alabaman or New Orleans girls in our office do the same, he will thank them and go out of his way to make conversation with them. He is so obvious about it that the mailman has noticed, as well as our office courier. The moment he started his job, he fired one of our staff members who had been there for years and was very hard-working because she was having a phone conversation in Spanish during her lunch break and he thought she was talking badly about him. He also fired a gay employee for no reason claiming he would not refer to him as "sir" (mind you, no one else in the office does this, but no one else has gotten fired over it). When my former co-worker's MOTHER died (my former co-worker is Cuban), he got angry that she was out of the office for one day (she has since left and found a new job), but when one of the Alabaman girl's AUNTS died, he told her to take off the whole week, bought flowers for the service, and had them delivered. I do not think of him as a bully, but more of a hateful, ignorant individual who should be pitied for being so intolerant.
So his claim to superiority is that he is mono-lingual? You are a far better person than I am, congratulations on your progressive and forgiving attitude. Good for you. I'd be getting all the Spanish speakers together and going to see lawyers (not for money, just to see him removed and job offers to fired employees).
I don't "look" like a Spanish speaker (might be why I haven't experienced this but Castelliano is my lengua brava) according to friends from Mexico, and other countries south of USA but I didn't learn English until I was about 9 (English is actually my 4th language). I cannot imagine dealing with someone like that day in and day out. I've received much more prejudice for being too light-skinned from black family than for knowing more than one language. Good grief, what a pitiful and ignorant excuse for an American you work for. Best wishes!
If you want to read up on an outrageous case by a known corporate serial bully go to:
www.stopemployerbullying.org
and read up on ALIANA'S CASE AGAINST DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE
My wife was in an unfortunate situation where her name was smeared because she landed a position in the company over another candidate (the bully). She never met this person before but because she was chosen for the position the bully talked to her weak minded minions and told them to be mean to her (otherwise she would bully the minions). Long story short, she was eventually fired but not before the damage had been done. The constant gossiping didn't have to come from the bully any longer but rather the minions she swayed into believing my wife was such a horrible person. My wife's weak minded superiors even took the bait and were trying to find a way to get rid of her. My wife had to leave her job because her health was starting to become affected, even in the height of the recession. She lost a good job at an otherwise good company but most importantly, her confidence in herself. Six months later she is still looking for a job, but I much rather her be out of that situation than remain.
I hope your wife finds something. She is very fortunate to have such an understanding partner.
I find that saying "(expletive) OFF" loudly and forcefully to the individual in question tends to make my "office bully" problems disappear like a soap bubble in a high wind.
Right...I'll have to give that a go next time I have a run-in with my boss.
you would be surprised.....................
No, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. Temper tantrums typically aren't permitted in a professional setting.
In my case a group of us would get together and play hockey before work and this one overbearing boss thought he was the boss on the ice as well. I took care of this by beating the living hell out of him, out on the ice (I eased up because I could see the stupid sonofabitch was all talk and couldn't fight) and we all never heard much of peep out of him, in his tough guy false bravado schtick, again. I had fellow employees and this guy's boss coming to me on the sly and backslapping and thanking me. Nothing he could do. Wasn't work sanctioned. So my advice to all is to lure the bully out to a non work sanctioned arena and BEAT HIS ASS!
I am an office bully, and love the look on weak peoples faces, when I bully them with my favorites such as "Enough of the standing around, shut the f*ck up and get back to work" or "If you f*ck that up again, you're fired, you dipsh*t" or "How many times do you have to be told to how to do do something, are you stupid?" or "How many idiots does it take to perform and menial task like this?" or "If you attended an accredited college then you would know what the proper formula for not being a dubmass is" or "Women in the office, shut up and make me some coffee b*tch" LOL
...and then you woke up....
Exactly.
You sound like you have a tiny dick and need to berate others to feel powerful...in whatever pathetic manner needed...That kind of attitude can only land you a job at a local grocery store..
WOW YOU MUST HAVE A NAPOLEAN COMPLEX , 5ft tall.low self esteem,and hate yourself, hurt people just to make yourself feel great???? LOL I would gladly samsh you like the cockroach you are in front of millions or just you and me ? I GOT THE GO-NADS DO YOU ??????????????????????
Bullies = people who are miserable in life.
There's trolling, and then there's you Hilary (or is it Sarah?). There's an art to trolling you know. You're entirely too transparent, too juvenile, hardly original, and downright boring in your feeble effort. Try again, but maybe next time how about letting some grown-up take a look before you hit the "post" button, eh? zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Exactly my thought Mec!! All I could think is that some very socially timid, frightened person wrote that. I'm picturing someone worthy only of pity for their fear in the real world. I'm sad the troll drew people in thinking they were honest in their post.
HINT: to eff-hilary -- in the same way that idiots don't self-recognize neither do bullies; you might want to consider talking to someone professionally about this gutless lashing out you do. By the by -- I'm a five foot woman, 115lbs soaking wet and I KNOW that I could take you down (ie: you are not impressive). But being licensed in counseling I'd probably have too much pity to.
i'm an navy veteran - if you or anybody else tried to bully me, they would be dealt with in a severe manner. Not everyone is a weak sheep. Sooner or later, you will bite off more than you can chew. Don't write checks that your butt can't cash.
F*ck_hilary!!wow!! you must be ugly!! i love to beat the sh*t out of people like you. i find out who you are and let them start their bullying game, and then one day, i'm at your car after work... and that might go on for a year. you know, different times, different locations. maybe when your with your parents or kids. How much fun is it now as*hole? Be very careful who you play with. Some people have never played by the rules and they are usually the type you like to pick on.
F*ck_hilary!!wow!! ...... You an educated idiot!!.....Treating another human being the way YOU DO....show's all of us who have had sucessful business's and we have had wonderful people work WITH us that people like you will be an extinct speicies sooner than you know!! haha .. lol .. hehe
Oh, I thought I would throw a couple more on the table; 1. Wow, you must have spent A LOT of time on your back in college instead of studying". 2. Your work grows on people, so does cancer". 3. You not as dumb as people say, you are much worse". 4. Do us all a favor and kill yourself tonight when you get home". 4. I heard you are better at sex than anyone, now you just need to find a partner". 5. Ordinarily, people live and learn, in your case though, you just live....
You would not survive in corporate America...Your attempt to fool people is pitiful...
Uh, F-Hilary -- are you considering yourself original? Thank you for making me actually laugh out loud though! Now try this one on for size: Its not paranoia, I am actually laughing AT you.
F-hilary....I suggest you watch your back, you may find yourself sitting in a courtroom when someone has enough and calls the EEOC or better yet a first rate attorney and you get called out. You are one twisted and Narcissistic individual and you may ending up paying for it dearly.
I have had my encounters with office bullying. Some good, some not so. But I learned from all of the situations. I learned that you need to set your boundries and do not allow co workers from the beginning to cross them. If they do, just like you would do with any child acting out, let them know the consequenses of their actions. Let them know this will not be tolorated. Of course in a calm and professional manner. I don't know any one who would keep their job after thorwing such a fit, and using inappropriate language. We are all adults, some just need to be reminded of it. And if it happens to be you that needs to do the reminding, then let it be so. Bullying is only allowed if you let it. Stand up and say something. H.R. managers are there for a reason. The company does not want to be sued by a stressed out employee.
Nothing can be done if you do not report it. How is anyone going to know what you are going through if you do not say so. People can not read your mind.
Forgive me but you seem so young and naive,most bullying is not coworkers that is harrassment,2) all HR depts are puppets for the corporate enviroment regardless the size of the company,3) sued by a stressed out employee LOL come on when did that have a legal position?????? with the courts or labor law? Labor law protects individuals for discrimination: SEX,AGE,RELIGION, RACE,COLOR,ETC. Get the IDEA??????
As for civil court good luck, by the way not from experience? Never would go there a wise man said choose your battles wisely? You generally will not win the war?
Wow, I fell sorry for you. If that is what you got from what I posted.
Do not feel sorry for me your post was / is naive.
I do, the people that think don't need it, are the ones that need it the most. :)
After a couple of years in a corporate enviroment working for a bipolar individual,and thats being nice! I was making a six figure income and after 6 in private ( just her and i in her office) I had been age and religious discriminated against,not to mention the office meetings. The female manager would rant about the office in our staff meetings by the way 3x's a week on subjects as far off as her,Family, you did not say goodmorning, her birthday cards and gift, mothers day card and gift,Thanksgiving,Christmas you name it if she could make eveyone around her miserable as she was then she would. This was workplace bullying and very unprofessional but was able to get away with it due to her boss and her connections with the CEO and the owner of the company,by the way is privately held. The company and products are very good but this manager was the worst human being/boss I have ever had, now this consensus was viewed by everyone in the office many came and went because of her and of course I resigned after serious consideration during my last year, now 1 yr later the peace I have enjoyed and greater health far out way the six figure income. With a good reputation and hard work I will replace that six figure income within the next two years. I suppose the moral of the story is Life is too short to put up with BULLLLLLLSSSSSSSHHHHHTTTT.
Hey even if I had to sacrafice money for peace of mind I would gladly do it all over again. Stability LOL what is that? Money LOL what is that? Peace of mind,joy to do what is always right , PRICELESS!
Ruby337!!!! I just read your post and one thing that amazes me is how naive you are first privately held companys HR Dept are puppets , secondly if you sue a company you better be ready for a drawn out litigation last but not least you are blackballed in your industry from that point forward????? Young and dumb is not an excuse at least that is how it appears??? Choose your battles wisely!!!!
Ignorant, and lazy are no excuse. "Choose my battles wisely." It's people that don't want to change anything that created and feed into a work environments like the one you were in. You made the choice to work in the evironment that you worked in. It's sad to know that people still choose to work in places like the one you discribed for as long as you did. As for my age, what does that matter? I've worked for over 25 years. And glad to say I have never encouted a place like the one you discribed. As I stated previously, they are called boundires. Try them some time.
I have an office bully. Everyone feels uncomfortable around him because he chooses to humiliate people loudly in front of others, or berates them via email, cc'ing the head honchos of the organization. I found out recently that he was having serious problems with his wife and had a nasty divorce. Ever since his divorce was finalized, he seems to have cooled down, and he even went so far as to say I looked pretty today, which is unusual. My point is, in most of these cases, half of the bullies probably have personal problems that they are taking out on the rest of the staff, so understand it's probably not you, it is them, and if possible, try to steer clear of them or try to ignore whatever they have to say, without taking it personally. If you expect HR to do something about it, you are dead wrong. HR will usually defend anyone who has high productivity and/or sales ANY day over someone who doesn't or someone who is a "lowly" staff member, so if the bullying gets THAT bad, your best bet is to probably start looking for a new job.
Hey, Hot-in-Miami, that's a lot easier said than done, especially if you're over 50. I'm just waiting for the day I can collect Social Security and leave this BS behind me. Trust me, the day I leave, the door won't hit me where the good Lord split me.
You have to have a tough skin, and realize most of the time it's not about you. But the corporate world is much like the sandbox on the playground, no matter what. If you were naturally good there, you will be ok. Others have to work on assertiveness and similar skills.
Tera...I completely agree....To succeed in business, a person needs to know themselves,,,your strengths and weaknesses and also your value to any organization. There will be people who will try to break you down...don't let it happen, rise above and always keep your eyes looking forward...
I've had to put up with my share of workplace bullies and accepted their existence as a part of life. It struck me the problem was always the boss of the bully. Whenever the bully's boss adopted an attitude of indifference as to what went on in the workplace or didn't have the guts to clamp down on bullying behavior, bullying was bound to occur.
Mine were the top people in the HR Dept,and my manager. Tokio Marine Management, NY, NY. horrible people.
It makes sense that bullies would be attracted to jobs in Human Resources. They get to fire people or make their lives a living Hell. Another place for bullies in in operations.
No one ever got rich working for someone else. Get a corporate gig to pay off your loans, save some seed money, develop a plan then get the hell out. Corporate America is quicksand.
I'm Hispanic in California. (Born and raised here just incase you needed to know). I was bully by a black women who held the same title as myself. It happened because I reported a man (black) who would not leave me alone and she happened to have a crush on. When word got out, she started to bully me and got the other sista's to join in. Needless to say....I got no support from management who happened to be black and it was impossible. (Interesting how other women came to me with the same complaint of this man, but because everyone liked him NOTHING was said to management. These women (black/white) were afraid of the same treatment I received from our peers. I ended the situation by transfering out of a great paying department to a lesser paying job. Not fair!!!!
I worked at a corporation named Cycorp where the head of human resources was married to the president of the company. She was not only a bully, but she abused her access to personal information to bully employees, sometimes even online and after they already left the employee of the company.
I'm surprise to hear this is still going on in the work place. I remember years ago when I was working the boss was such a bully not greatful for any blessings that crossed his path, anyways the girl in the office was sooooo upset with him she put her urine in his coffee n it made her feel better...whewwwwwwww disgusting.
The final straw for me was the psychopathic boss jumping up and down in front of me while screaming the most accusatory, insane remarks at me. By this point, I had enough of her fits of rage and began preparing to save myself. She never knew that for 17 months I carried around an undated resignation letter. After her tirade and she went off to another part of the office, I quietly dropped the letter on her desk, picked up my purse and walked out into an unknown career future having decided I would rather be unemployed and have my sanity vs. working in fear. To this day, two years and two months, I feel I am still in recovery nursing a very fragile self esteem.
Hillary,Your comments are very sad , you must have been hurt as a child.I'm sooooo sorry you have so much paim.I hear about people like you on the news an employee goes off the edge and ends your life with several others and him self, very sad! I will pray for people like you to be filled with Colonissians 3;15..
No thanks, I prefer Leviticus 18;23