Comments on: Workplace Bullying Or Harassment: The Differences http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/ Bullying Guide: Learning about and dealing with bullying Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:21:19 +0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lisa http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Lisa Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:47:02 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-79 I have a co-worker that is toxic to our work environment. The first department told one person in her second department to watch out, she is trouble. Her second position within the company was eliminated and our department had to take her and this took place in June. One employee in her second department said she was psycho but I had some nice conversations with her and believed she would work out fine. I did mention this fact to the boss. This is her third position in three years. I could not have been so wrong about her. She has a hard core gruff exterior and has bullied one other person in our department beside myself. That person was almost fired and decided to walk on eggshells around her so he could keep his job. After that, she turned to me because she seems to have to bully someone to make herself happy. Her MO is that she is in constant state of watchfulness until you make a mistake and she pounce on it to the boss. She states it so that you are viewed as incompetent or negligent. She likes to discredit anything I say or do to my coworkers. Our once very productive department and friendly environment where all the coworkers enjoyed each other no long apply. We are told to tread lightly around her. After being reprimanded so many times from the boss I have started to feel that I can not do anything right. The boss believes we should do everything we can to appease the bully. I do not think the boss wants to hear the complaints anymore and that we should do something about our behavior, not the bully to stop her behavior problems. The panic attacks, lack of focus, sleepless nights and a total state of depression are an on going process in a job I once really enjoyed. I want to leave so bad but our economy is so uncertain. I am researching an action plan and hope to have some kind of resolution. I am not going to take it anymore! I have a co-worker that is toxic to our work environment. The first department told one person in her second department to watch out, she is trouble. Her second position within the company was eliminated and our department had to take her and this took place in June. One employee in her second department said she was psycho but I had some nice conversations with her and believed she would work out fine. I did mention this fact to the boss. This is her third position in three years. I could not have been so wrong about her. She has a hard core gruff exterior and has bullied one other person in our department beside myself. That person was almost fired and decided to walk on eggshells around her so he could keep his job. After that, she turned to me because she seems to have to bully someone to make herself happy. Her MO is that she is in constant state of watchfulness until you make a mistake and she pounce on it to the boss. She states it so that you are viewed as incompetent or negligent. She likes to discredit anything I say or do to my coworkers. Our once very productive department and friendly environment where all the coworkers enjoyed each other no long apply. We are told to tread lightly around her.
After being reprimanded so many times from the boss I have started to feel that I can not do anything right. The boss believes we should do everything we can to appease the bully. I do not think the boss wants to hear the complaints anymore and that we should do something about our behavior, not the bully to stop her behavior problems. The panic attacks, lack of focus, sleepless nights and a total state of depression are an on going process in a job I once really enjoyed. I want to leave so bad but our economy is so uncertain. I am researching an action plan and hope to have some kind of resolution. I am not going to take it anymore!

]]> By: Trish http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Trish Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:50:49 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-63 I am glad I found this blog and information. On March 8, 2008, I was terminated after requesting an audit on our office, but was told that my termination was not due to "retaliation". They offered me a severance package, and gave me unclear reasons for the termination. At the time of termination, I was the service manager, marketing and advertising manager, and the sales assistant for a heating and air conditioning company. I performed all duties since June 1, 2006 but was not properly compensated as promised until December 22, 2007. At the time of my termination, I brought home less than I was making as an hourly employee and was worked 10-hour days, 7 days a week. The HR clerk told me that after receiving a disturbing letter from a co-worker at my company about me, they decided to fly out and interview all of the office staff regarding me. The entire office staff "all said the same thing about me", is what the HR clerk stated to me. The writer of the disturbing letter has been HARASSING me for the entire 4 years I have worked there, and for an additional 2 years prior to this. I quit working for this company in 1998 after performing "extra job duties" and not being compensated properly and for the harassment from the same individual. The general manager asked me to come back to work for him and stated that the individual that had caused all the problems before was no longer working for the company so I returned after being given many, many promises of a great future with his company. This will never happen now. The harassing employee was hired back after I was there 6 months by the operations manager and did so against the company policy. The employee was taking medication for a mental disorder and in order to be re-hired, it needed to be approved by the HR department and by the General Manager. My request for an audit resulted after the general manager and I found hidden in an individuals drawer: several checks not deposited and unbilled warranties all for my department. She was withholding revenue for my department, trying to make me look bad. They were from December 2007 and it was then February 2008. I also complained about the above-mentioned employee (my harasser) and the different violations to company policy that she had been performing causing my department, dispatchers, and technicians all great stress and extra work. I have documentation on all of my complaints to the HR department for the entire 4 years. After many, many discussions with the General Manager, HR rep, operations manager, and many, many promises of a "better workplace" NEVER HAPPENING -they fired me? I feel they fired me because it was easier to get rid of 1 person, than fire 2 or 3 employees that were causing the problems. My harasser is very violent, evil, and dishonest in front of the entire staff. I was threatened physically by several employees with witnesses, my vehicle was vandalized several times while at work and at home by the same individuals, my work and personal computers were tampered with, my office at work was broken into on several occasions and work and personal property was removed, I was yelled and cussed out by 3 individuals and never once were any of them disciplined for any of their actions! I never threatened, or cussed out any of my co-workers, but was fired and thrown out like a piece of garbage. I declined their so-called severance package offer, they wanted me to accept $30,000, sign an agreement that said that I "QUIT", and to drop any legal claims against them with the Labor Board and with the worker’s comp insurance. The wages I feel they owe me are in the amount of $43,000 for the period in which I was promised a wage, given that wage for a few weeks, then dropped back to a lower wage until being put on salary in December 2007. I also stated to them other claims of payment due to various things that I was suppose to receive and did not. The total claim was for $125,000, which at this time I am waiting for my hearing with the California Labor Board Commissioners office. I have boxes of documentation showing discrimination, bullying, harassment, and they are in receipt of only a few. The general manager and I were friends and worked well together, as did many people there. The bullying, jealousy and evilness of this one employee as resulted in my termination. I have become extremely depressed, and am having panic attacks each and every time I have to discuss anything to do with my employment at that company or even the thought of starting a new job and a new career anywhere. I know I have many issues and it is hard to put any of it into a short version, but by what I have written, do you think if I go all the way and take legal action with the courts, I have a chance at winning my case? Thanks, Trish I am glad I found this blog and information. On March 8, 2008, I was terminated after requesting an audit on our office, but was told that my termination was not due to “retaliation”. They offered me a severance package, and gave me unclear reasons for the termination. At the time of termination, I was the service manager, marketing and advertising manager, and the sales assistant for a heating and air conditioning company. I performed all duties since June 1, 2006 but was not properly compensated as promised until December 22, 2007. At the time of my termination, I brought home less than I was making as an hourly employee and was worked 10-hour days, 7 days a week. The HR clerk told me that after receiving a disturbing letter from a co-worker at my company about me, they decided to fly out and interview all of the office staff regarding me. The entire office staff “all said the same thing about me”, is what the HR clerk stated to me. The writer of the disturbing letter has been HARASSING me for the entire 4 years I have worked there, and for an additional 2 years prior to this. I quit working for this company in 1998 after performing “extra job duties” and not being compensated properly and for the harassment from the same individual. The general manager asked me to come back to work for him and stated that the individual that had caused all the problems before was no longer working for the company so I returned after being given many, many promises of a great future with his company. This will never happen now. The harassing employee was hired back after I was there 6 months by the operations manager and did so against the company policy. The employee was taking medication for a mental disorder and in order to be re-hired, it needed to be approved by the HR department and by the General Manager.

My request for an audit resulted after the general manager and I found hidden in an individuals drawer: several checks not deposited and unbilled warranties all for my department. She was withholding revenue for my department, trying to make me look bad. They were from December 2007 and it was then February 2008. I also complained about the above-mentioned employee (my harasser) and the different violations to company policy that she had been performing causing my department, dispatchers, and technicians all great stress and extra work. I have documentation on all of my complaints to the HR department for the entire 4 years. After many, many discussions with the General Manager, HR rep, operations manager, and many, many promises of a “better workplace” NEVER HAPPENING -they fired me? I feel they fired me because it was easier to get rid of 1 person, than fire 2 or 3 employees that were causing the problems. My harasser is very violent, evil, and dishonest in front of the entire staff. I was threatened physically by several employees with witnesses, my vehicle was vandalized several times while at work and at home by the same individuals, my work and personal computers were tampered with, my office at work was broken into on several occasions and work and personal property was removed, I was yelled and cussed out by 3 individuals and never once were any of them disciplined for any of their actions! I never threatened, or cussed out any of my co-workers, but was fired and thrown out like a piece of garbage.

I declined their so-called severance package offer, they wanted me to accept $30,000, sign an agreement that said that I “QUIT”, and to drop any legal claims against them with the Labor Board and with the worker’s comp insurance. The wages I feel they owe me are in the amount of $43,000 for the period in which I was promised a wage, given that wage for a few weeks, then dropped back to a lower wage until being put on salary in December 2007. I also stated to them other claims of payment due to various things that I was suppose to receive and did not. The total claim was for $125,000, which at this time I am waiting for my hearing with the California Labor Board Commissioners office. I have boxes of documentation showing discrimination, bullying, harassment, and they are in receipt of only a few.

The general manager and I were friends and worked well together, as did many people there. The bullying, jealousy and evilness of this one employee as resulted in my termination. I have become extremely depressed, and am having panic attacks each and every time I have to discuss anything to do with my employment at that company or even the thought of starting a new job and a new career anywhere.

I know I have many issues and it is hard to put any of it into a short version, but by what I have written, do you think if I go all the way and take legal action with the courts, I have a chance at winning my case?
Thanks, Trish

]]> By: kim Smith http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-48 kim Smith Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:31:22 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-48 I was fired due to the fact, I had recently reported a co-worker bulling me on the job and that she was rude did not know how to talk to me in a proper manner and was provoked me to fight her. So just this morning that's what happen she approached me with her violent ways and I did not know what to expect from her when she came rushing me so I attacked her and put her to the floor. The HR and the plant manger knew of my situation with this lady and nothing was done to avoid us having any contact with one another. Is there anything I can do about this horrible situation. I was fired due to the fact, I had recently reported a co-worker bulling me on the job and that she was rude did not know how to talk to me in a proper manner and was provoked me to fight her. So just this morning that’s what happen she approached me with her violent ways and I did not know what to expect from her when she came rushing me so I attacked her and put her to the floor. The HR and the plant manger knew of my situation with this lady and nothing was done to avoid us having any contact with one another. Is there anything I can do about this horrible situation.

]]> By: Paul Shipgood (Grampa Starling) http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Paul Shipgood (Grampa Starling) Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:13:45 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-40 Hi, I'm so glad to have found your blog - I was beginning to think I was on my own out here. I write a blog as a resource for parents and grandparents in bringing up children responsibly and try to major on child welfare, child development and parenting so it's great to find a resource on something that affects all ages, particularly children. I shall be putting a general link to your blog in my bloglinks and will also link to appropriate articles as and when I either use or refer to them in my posts. I trust this meets with your approval and look forward to reading more of your articles and reader comments. Grampa Starling. Hi, I’m so glad to have found your blog – I was beginning to think I was on my own out here.

I write a blog as a resource for parents and grandparents in bringing up children responsibly and try to major on child welfare, child development and parenting so it’s great to find a resource on something that affects all ages, particularly children.

I shall be putting a general link to your blog in my bloglinks and will also link to appropriate articles as and when I either use or refer to them in my posts. I trust this meets with your approval and look forward to reading more of your articles and reader comments.

Grampa Starling.

]]> By: catherine http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-34 catherine Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:59:51 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-34 To Anonymous: You sure are, and make no mistake. In my opinion, they know they're not really being very nice to you, but want you to feel all the responsibility for it. You are absolutely right! Unless your actions are directly and purposely effecting them in a negative way, you do not have to justify them. There are many different ways of thinking and behaving, and for one person or group of people to believe that their way is the only way is positively narrow minded. So, try not to worry yourself too much. Seems to me, the problem is theirs. I hope you feel better. To Anonymous: You sure are, and make no mistake.
In my opinion, they know they’re not really being very nice to you, but want you to feel all the responsibility for it. You are absolutely right! Unless your actions are directly and purposely effecting them in a negative way, you do not have to justify them. There are many different ways of thinking and behaving, and for one person or group of people to believe that their way is the only way is positively narrow minded. So, try not to worry yourself too much. Seems to me, the problem is theirs. I hope you feel better.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Anonymous Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:55:01 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-33 I'm sick of having to justify my personal actions to others in my office, just because they may seem strange to them or are unusual to them. These are the same people who never ask me to go for coffee or lunch and then turn around and say 'why do you eat lunch on your own'. I'm not sure if this is bullying but it makes me feel victimised. I’m sick of having to justify my personal actions to others in my office, just because they may seem strange to them or are unusual to them. These are the same people who never ask me to go for coffee or lunch and then turn around and say ‘why do you eat lunch on your own’. I’m not sure if this is bullying but it makes me feel victimised.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Wayne Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:19:49 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-29 work in an educational system where there is no union for protection of one’s workplace rights. The chair of the department has written two negative evaluations on me and both contain very general and vague statements that have no factual circumstances to back up his statements. He has on two occasions told me that by going to HR and the Dean’s Office in confidence is not to his detriment but to mine. His deputy chair also wrote some very demeaning statements in his recent annual report and then sent them to an email server where twenty-four faculty members could view them in a software called tex. How should one proceed on this sensitive issue? Is there a legal case for suing and can one sue the individual that has posted false information about them on an internet server? Please let me know what is your advice and suggestions. Thanks. By Wayne on Aug 6, 2008 work in an educational system where there is
no union for protection of one’s workplace
rights. The chair of the department has
written two negative evaluations on me and
both contain very general and vague statements
that have no factual circumstances to back up
his statements. He has on two occasions
told me that by going to HR and the Dean’s Office in confidence is not to his detriment
but to mine. His deputy chair also wrote
some very demeaning statements in his recent
annual report and then sent them to an email
server where twenty-four faculty members could
view them in a software called tex. How
should one proceed on this sensitive issue?
Is there a legal case for suing and can one
sue the individual that has posted false
information about them on an internet server?
Please let me know what is your advice and
suggestions. Thanks.

By Wayne on Aug 6, 2008

]]> By: Heather http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Heather Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:48:22 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-23 I am currently being harrassed by a coworker, I went to my boss and was told that it was petty and to get over it, the coworker was also told. She came up to me and went off, threating me bodily harm. And I reported it and was told there was nothing that could be done since noone wants to say that they saw anything. What do I do now, before something really bad happens and noone sees it? Help I am currently being harrassed by a coworker, I went to my boss and was told that it was petty and to get over it, the coworker was also told. She came up to me and went off, threating me bodily harm. And I reported it and was told there was nothing that could be done since noone wants to say that they saw anything. What do I do now, before something really bad happens and noone sees it? Help

]]> By: bullyfre http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-21 bullyfre Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:13:05 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-21 Hi, Missy. You should read some of the question and answer above. It may give you more of what to do. Hi, Missy. You should read some of the question and answer above. It may give you more of what to do.

]]> By: missy http://www.bullyfreeworld.com/2008/05/25/workplace-bullying-or-harassment-the-differences/comment-page-1/#comment-20 missy Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:00:03 +0000 http://bullyfreeworld.com/?p=21#comment-20 i am a hairstylist, and i am sick and tired of people i work with that thrive on drama, making belittling comments directed toward me. I have gone to my immediate supervisor, her supervisor, and left a voice mail message for her supervisor, and we still have issues. Today was my breaking point, i told my boss either she gets her off my shifts or i'm out. HELP!! i am a hairstylist, and i am sick and tired of people i work with that thrive on drama, making belittling comments directed toward me. I have gone to my immediate supervisor, her supervisor, and left a voice mail message for her supervisor, and we still have issues. Today was my breaking point, i told my boss either she gets her off my shifts or i’m out.
HELP!!

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