Workplace bullying

Hi. Maybe I'm treating this like a diary - so excuse me while I write a memo to myself- but when the holidays end in 3 days - I return to a toxic workplace. Staff are under pressure to work in unsafe environments (occupational violence). If you say anything you'll be bullied out using a variety of methods. I'm mentally prepared to leave after the first incident this year. I just have to prepare a cv, interview clothes, a fresh and smiling disposition etc.       

hi Shorlstar. I like the way you made the point about a most difficult and frustrating aspect of reporting bullying - the 'poor performance' trick (or the 'she's crazy and unpopular trick)
 It should be up to the employer to prove the 'poor performance'. Wouldn't they have to show that prior to your bullying complaint, that they had already spoken to you about whatever needed improving, given three warnings or something like that? And there would have to be a record of what was agreed on by both parties eg: more training. But as we all know, once they start this process, the bullying target is pretty much stuffed.    

I have also met 2 other people who have reported bullying at work. It did not go well for them.
One of them was a welfare officer interviewing me  when I went for financial assistance/bills/food. I was in the middle of a bullying claim at an ex-workplace too, so had no income for months. I don't know how you feel about it all now, but I hope other colleagues showed you some support. You can be sure you are not the only one. 
Also, as a frequent op-shopper - (how else would one get by) - I am noticing that a lot of the paid staff are overworked. They don't seem to employ enough staff to run the 'business'. There must be a huge pressure to give give give, to self be  sacrificing, when you work for an organisation that tries to present an unblemished image of goodliness.
The managers at the top want the stores to run like a department store and make a profit. But they won't resource them properly. It is in work environments like these that bullying thrives. 
         
Sorry, back to you ... :-) ... I don't know when your hearings were, but I hope you have found a suitable place to work and you've had a good refreshing summer break and got your enegy back after what must have been a mountain of paperwork and appointment after appointment.

It saddens and disgusts me to read the stories of people who have been sacked for being the victims of bullying and harrassment. What disturbs me most is that in order to cover their butts, hr /management trump up allegations of poor performance.  That happened in my case with a supposed caring organisation. I was with them for nearly 6 years and did my job well, but had to put up with a bully for the entire time I was there. When I formally complained I was sacked. I followed through with Fair Work which found the they did have a case to answer but to take it to a further level you need expensive lawyers and the effect on your emotional and mental health is devastating.  I would like to see some serious changes to the Fair Work laws that prohibit companies from pulling the poor performance card, and if they try to do that then the onus of proof should be on them to prove it rather than the victim having to prove it didnt happen. Those sort of people need to be held accountable for the devastation to people's lives that they do - financially, emotionally and mentally.

Lissaniska. All I can think of is the principal at a school I know of where the she gets her 'followers' to make a false complaint about their competence and performance and then puts the teacher on process -  it's a formal process which is white collar bullying. The victims - the teachers - often end up on stress leave with psychological damage.
 
The teachers she puts on process or under investigation, are the ones who have stood up for workplace occupational health and safety. Either re: asbestos and regularly damaged asbestos walls; assaults by students; staff working in isolated settings with violent students, etc.

If you and your colleague have the evidence to support your performannce review, and you followed all procedures you have nothing to lose. I'm sure any business persons organisation could advise you as an employer.  

Hi Miss Smith, 
I read all of your entry. Even casual staff have rights to a safe workplace. You are unfortunately working in an industry where you could be easily replaced by another willing worker, so if you complained to the boss about all the health and safety issues you brought up, the meanies could just decide not to hire you. 
You could try going straight to the top bosses again and explain about the cleaners cupboard. If they don't fix things, then these are some options:
1/ You're in for a big fight to prove how many hours it takes to do the job, then to get the pay for it. 
2/You put up with it
3/You move to another job
4/ Ring Worksafe and dob them in anonymously. Although Worksafe often tell you to go through the Occupational Health and Safety rep at work first. Storing chemicals in the same small space intended as a lunch room is definately againt Work Safe recommendations, and against industrial relations laws - where the employer (in certain situations) is obliged to provide a lunch room for employees.

 If you're not in a union, see if you can have a chat to some of the miners who are in the miners union just to get a bit of face to face advice about workplace rights. If you're in the cleaners union, you probably know that it is common place for bosses to increase the work load after you start. this happens in the posh hotels in Melbourne too. the staff are mainly foreign and desperate for work, so to finish all the rooms allocated, they work 2-3 hours unpaid.

You should keep details of the incident with your eyes. the increased workload, doctors appointments. treatment, costs. 

Start looking for another job now.
You would be eligible for a 'constructive dismissal' - ring or check the website for JOBWATCH about dismissals. You can get a 'constructive dismissal' when you had to leave your workplace because it is unsafe. You can provide Centrelink with a medical certificate (check, it might need to be done on one of their forms) You now have records of a physical injury and evidence that your doctor recommended further professional help. (beware, the govt is trying to close down jobwatch currently, might not be many staff available on the phones.) You would then be eligible to receive unemployment benefits immediately, no waiting period like there is for people who just quit their job because they don't like it. (centrelink payments depend on other criteria like how much money you have in the bank/assets etc)          

As a casual you can't claim much in wages from the employer after a constructive dismissal, but sometimes you can if you have been there for a certain length of time.

it's not fair of course. but if the big bosses don't fix things, and that bullying twit doesn't change their behaviour, you might need to change jobs.
In fact, the bully is probably carrying out the bosses wishes. or, the bully has something to hide - usually either fraud or incompetence.

It is hard when you obviously need your income. that's why I bought a boring but affordable small place on the edge of town and use a bike and public transport most of the time - because I'll probably always be a casual worker, and I wanted to make sure I could make the repayments even if i was unemployed.   

I do agree with your advice, but government must carry through with recommendations and learn from mistakes made in the past such as with the Ambulance enquiry.  This includes taking some responsibility and appropriate action against those who are perpetrating this type of behaviour. Did you know that the head of the department concerned in that service (during that time) was  moved to another department where the behaviour continued?   Was that a solution? Unfortunately I have been on the receiving end of this continued behaviour  since then....

I think your fact sheet should also include what to do if you are the one who is unfairly accused of bullying.  I, with my line manager, are currently the subject of a formal bullying investigation by a peer of mine.  This happened just after they were put on a performance management plan for failure to perform and their accusations are based on complete distortions of the truth and complete lies.  It is an extremely upsetting situation and actually makes me feel like I am being bullied - especially as the individual concerned has "rallied support" from within our team and several of them are now treating me differently.

I do not condone bullying but I think we need to be careful that it cannot be used to avoid poor performance.

Im a casual employee for a contract cleaning company. I have worked for this company for approx 8 months now. My supervisour has been bullying me for approx 7 months now, she also has been rude and very bitchy towards 90% of the people I work with. She constantly uses the wording "im going to rip you a new asshole" when she asks for a talk with you. many people over the months have quit because of her. She dose not like me, because I am outspoken and used to stand up for what I believe in... We are given 3 hours to complete a task that takes 4 hours, last week we were informed that we now only have 2 hours to complete the job... next to impossible. She wants the work done to a very high standard and has now also included "extra" tasks that "must be done, no ifs or buts" into this reduced time...Impossible!! I constantly am in tears and have asked her many times why i am treated like this..No reply.. Ive asked the owners of the company to transferr me away from her, but she speaks to them  very highly of me and "cant loose a jod worker like me"... then she laughs at me. Last week the working conditions I was expected to work in were very unreasonable, I text her pleading to not do the job because it was making me feel ill, and the conditions were unreasonable.. i text her and text her, she never replied. I did the job and got something in my eye, I text her and asked her what to do, she replied "wash it".. I didnt report it to first aid because we work at a coal mine and the conditions i worked in would have seen me in a lot of trouble for performing the task in the first place... so i didnt reported it, and later that night has a really bad headache and my eyes were weaping (sorry for being gross) puss and stuck togther... I went to the doctor and started explaing and broke down into tears.. My doctor has now refered me to "talk to a professinal" and put me on 2 weeks stress leave and drugged me up.. I wont be getting paid for my time off, My medication is costing alot of mney and I have to pay to talk to another doctor...Im casual, therfore I get  no assistance...
Ok so back to my boss, here is an example of some of the things I deal with....
I dont smoke, she dose, and smokes in the company car that I drive.Ive complained about the smell of smoke in the car and the butts she leaves in it. Her reply to me is "the butts have been in car for over a week, and no one has cleaned them", so Im expected to clean her butts up?? very fair hey..
$9 was "borrowed" I was asked in front of 6 people if I ni anything about it... Hmmm
e are no longer allowed to sit in her office and have our breaks. If we have an unpaid break we are expected to do this in a cleaners storage cupboard... Yep thats rite, on the site plans for my workplace the words Cleaners cupboard are used to describe our new meal room.  My laundry at home is a similar size to the cupboard.. to paint a picture of how bad it is, The "cupboard" is also the storage area for chemicals, dirty mops and DIRTY sanitary bins, you no the kind that sit next to ladies toilets, And our microwave is situated next to these items :))
so now im practarly unemployed, have 3 kids and a mortage and its only a few weeks until my boys birthday and then christmas... and I dont get any pay because im casual.How is it fair when my boss has caused this?

It seems that there are few workplaces where bullying is not happening. There is little doubt that bullying can take people to some very dark places and at times like this, they need to speak with a counsellor or psychologist. After all, you are a very important person who should not be penalised for being competent, for doing your job, or even being well liked (except by the bully). There are no quick fixes and workplace bullying is a complex issue requiring complex solutions. Over the years, I have heard many of the same stories as each person has relayed above. Some have just walked away and continue to grieve. Some have confronted the bully and have managed to change the behaviours of the bully. Some are still fighting. In some organisations there is a brotherhood where speaking up is frowned upon, and certainly it appears that this is what is happening in the NSW Police Service. My advice to individuals is to keep records of what was said or done, who said it, who was present, what they said, where it happened and your responses. I also suggest that you should keep a record of your emotional response. Whilst each case is judged on its merits, your emotional response may be taken into consideration. I also suggest that if you are being subjected to bullying, start the note taking process as soon as you realise what is happening to you. Seek assistance from support groups and form a support network (most times it will be outside your organisation). For a young person in the workplace, it can be extremely daunting and for various reasons, they can be subjected to all sorts of 'tests' to see whether or not they can cope. However, there are limits as to how far the banter goes before it becomes bullying. Read the fact sheets listed on this website. Check out some of the other websites around where there a number of consultants and professionals provide commentary about bullying. In some cases, workplace conflict is caused by environmental factors include increased work pressures and even managerial practices and communication. For those in the public sector who are no doubt reading this comment, read the NSW Ambulance Report about bullying, or the WorkCover report about bullying. There are some good lessons to be shared in organisations. Importantly, the death of Brodie Panlock should not go unheeded. Her death is a lesson that should never be repeated. Changes to the work health and safety laws mean that there will need to be greater focus on psychological hazards e.g. bullying in organisations. It does take take time to gain some resolution, and there will be times when it feels like no-one is listening or no-one cares, and there will be times when people will tell it will all get back to normal. I know of people who have been on this treadmill for three years or more before they finally managed to get some relief, and I know of people who managed to get the problem sorted out in a few days. The main thing is to stay strong, stay focused and believe in yourself.

Pretend to yourself you are really really really superhuman brave, like the bravest, most relaxed, most- unaffected-by- rude- bully- people, most secure person in the world. Say hello every day, be seen to have other friends (bullies hate that)

Confront them one to one. This is where pretending to be superhuman brave comes into it. Say, 'Penelope', I do need to ask for your point of view or co-operation at times to get my part of the job done. In your role you do 'x' part in the production line, and I do 'y'. I do expect co-operation from you. Now, is it possible for you to do 'x,y,z'? Or is there something about the way I do things that you are not happy about?

Never show emotion. They're usually so petty or stuffed up that they will go down the track of an unconstructive emotional defensive track. Just an idea. I did it a few times and it helped. But she's still incredibly difficult. (whoops)    

Yep. I believe you. 

Hi Sammi. It will all get better, it takes a while. And what you said about taking the legal route etc is true and familiar. I think it helps to know others believe you, and to know that we're all just as shocked when workplace bullying is happening in the community services sector, including the police. Some of these online sites are a bit like support groups, the benefits of which which you would know from your profession. Empathy and all that. I had to literally re-build myself, and that's what I told myself I was doing. It was almost as hard as going to the gym and lifting weights. And I purposefully made myself reignite my personal interests and hobbies. In between was all the paperwork and difficulties that go with suddenly losing your job, income, career, colleagues etc. I could be wrong, but volunteer work in an area I was qualified in eventually led to work. It's true, we shouldn't have to volunteer especially when it's already taken years to get qualifications and experience. This all happened in a regional city/smallish place. And it was amazing to see how many people come out of the woodwork as good people, and how many have been through the same thing, they're usually the quiet ones. If you think the nasty group have ruined your reputation, well they might have said nasty lies to some people, and only some of them will take notice, others will see them for what they are, nasty unconstructive people.  Get well soon :-)  
 

@StressedOut, I almost could have written your post.  The difference is that in my case the woman is new to the job and therefore doesn't have a track record of treating people poorly here.  In the one year we've both been in the organisation, I've seen her terminate someone during their 90 day probation, not continue a casual worker's contract (while other casual workers' contracts were continued), put onerous performance management on another worker who'd been on the job for several years, and use tactics such as exactly what you described on me.  A commonality among all of the above is that we're all from overseas.  Possibly just coincidence, but who knows?  Australians hired into the department in the same time period have fared better - although admittedly most of them who were not already friends of hers from prior jobs (so presumably they got sweet deals) have left in disgust at low pay, a time clock-crazy manager, and uncooperative teammates who are often the same friends of hers who got the sweet deals.

Would you love being in a professional ENGINEERING position and being threatened with termination for being less than 15 minutes late BECAUSE YOU WERE HIT BY A CAR WHILE WALKING TO WORK?  Then you'd love my situation.

Would you love being told, as a professional with 30 years of experience and many rave appraisals, that it's a shame you never had a family (children) because you would have learned to time manage better?

Would you love being held accountable as a failure for others' (not in your management chain at all) failure to do a task delegated to them as part of your project?

Would you love being expected to do a 55 hour workload in only 40 hours, when you are restricted to work only during a specific exact 9 hour day starting and ending at fixed times, in an open office environment full of maintenance engineers that makes completion of engineering tasks requiring concentration next to impossible?

Then you'd love my situation.

There are technical terms to describe a workplace of this nature, but they're not for polite company. I will settle for "extremely suboptimal, psychologically damaging to me and financially damaging to the employer in that it is not conducive to efficient performance of task duties, which is my strongly preferred way of working out of respect to those funding the company's operations."

Anyone need a capable IT engineer authorised to work anywhere in Australia as long as the employer will continue as the sponsor of my existing visa?  I request that you please message me.  I have great references, including one from this position (just not that manager! ;-).

To Auguy, I found your experience similar to mine. Although I did not work for the police, I worked in the social services arena, ironically advocating for those who could not do so for themselves. I became a target stemming from a colleague's jealousy and she aligned herself with several people in management as well as 3/4 of my team. Thus, I was subjected to bullying from a mob for nearly two years as my concerns fell on deaf ears. Finally I was fired, citing that I was the bully!! I don't think it was worth speaking up at all. It has done me no favours whatsoever, I can't get a job in town due to the slander I have been subjected to by my previous employer. Seven months on I am on antidepressants, have regular therapy and yet still would be quite content for a bus to hit me. Meanwhile the bully continues to reign supreme at my former workplace with several others having to leave and a couple more heading the way I did as they have chosen to speak up to no avail. There really is no help for targets. Just be grateful for your partner. And before anyone suggests legal action, that is not possible. Mentally, emotionally and physically I am a wreck and could not handle any further stress at this time. In addition, the ones that can support my stance are too scared to do so due to the threat of being fired. Targets are the losers all round when it comes to bullying. It's great to see some support for children and young people who are bullied via websites, support groups etc., but there really isn't anything valid to support adults who are bullied. I think I've read everything there is on bullying and trying to get some support so I don't feel so isolated but there is nothing substantial available. Life just sucks right nowl

Hi Broadway, if you're still reading reachout.
I really feel for you and your situation, it seems there are many difficulties. It is hard enough for a similarly educated Australian, with family and friends in Australia, to find people who believe and understand what workplace bullying does to people. It is also hard for an Australian to find doctors, counsellors, psychologists etc who will believe and also understand. So I can see how it would be so much harder for someone from another country to deal with such injustices. 
From the things you describe about your previous workplace I immediately understand and believe you. All the behaviours you mention are happening in so many workplaces. It is very often the hard working ones who are bullied by incompetent colleagues, by colleagues who have something to hide, where there is corruption, where people are fighting eachother for the better hours or for permanent work instead of casual. 
I seem to keep finding myself in workplaces run by sociopaths, workplace sociopaths, narcisists, (who are on the sociopath spectrum) and would you believe it, men who still think women should not work!
I am a second generation baltic european female and I have my own theory that in general Australians do not understand european females. Amongst the Australian /Balts I know, the women were always educated, always worked,  were equal to men, build up the people around them, share information, are very forward thinking and constructive. But Australians don't understand their outward seriousness. 
I don't think it is worth trying to expose the nincompoop incompetent bullies at your old workplace. Bosses are very good at twisting everything around to protect their image and that of the company. Trying to get them to admit what they did, to apologise, to change their ways - it will wear you out, and it will continue to make you dwell on it all. Those nasty incompetent colleagues do not deserve to be taking up space in your mind. Not pursuing the employer and dumb bullies does not make you weak, or wrong. It is sometimes better to get out of a toxic workplace and look after your health. If you could get to talk to someone about the awful injustices and unfair things the bullies did, and how they are probably cowards and liars too, then I think it would slowly start to help you. You need to be truly believed before you can move on. Do something challenging and enjoyable everyday, immerse yourself in something truly 'you' everyday. Even for 30 mins. Like gardening, walking, putting your engineering skills to use on a community project, tutor another young woman studying engineering? Remember, we are all born as an individual, we have a right to pursue a healthy and happy life and we are not just that worker who was abused, we are many things. 
There are a growing number of psychologists who understand workplace bullying in Australia. Unions seem to understand, but their hands are tied- 1/ Everyone is too scared to be a witness so no-one believes you. 2/  There are some loopholes in the law/legislations that allow employers to say certain things under the guise of 'work performance feedback', they might intimidate and interrogate employees, causing trauma, and say it was 'workplace counselling'. They get away with sneakily overworking people, monitoring them, undermining them, etc etc.        
I think by reading other peoples stories online you sometimes feel a bit better that you are not the only one, and other people believe you. But to start healing, it is better to talk to people who who are empathetic. 
You said no-one from this website contacted you, I don't think they read these pages and follow up on them. you would need to write to their email address and they wouldn't do counselling online, they would tell you were you could go for support. Now that you aren't in Australia, that wouldn't be helpful anyway.
I wish you all the best, and I hope I haven't written anything you find offensive.    

Hi Auguy, I also work with NSW Police in administration. I am in a predicament where my boss is a sworn officer and has no idea how to treat us, so, therefore turns a blind eye too. I am always singled out and isolated because I used to stand up for myself and confronted the person(s) involved, well I was always told I was to blame, so therefore I now shut up thinking it wouldn't affect me, but truth be told I have now had a nervous breakdown and no workcover support because I didn't formally put my complaints in writing. I understand how you feel and find that in our field it is a different kettle of fish with the "clique's".

Hi All,

I've never got any response from anybody from Australia or Bosnia where I live now. I contacted many many people in Australia - but no one ever help me. I am still without work, separated from my son, without any family - mother, father and one sister died - another one lives in Canada with 2 children and going through very bad separation period. I do not want to talk about my engineering skills, my academic education, my interest - all that cannot help when you are alone and treated absolutely without reason whatsoever. I regret why I did not contact media, why did not go even on hunger strike. To speak up. No one contacted me from this website. I contacted people who organized big conference in Sydney - but it looks for me it just to make some people busy. Everybody is talking about mobbing, it became very popular. My case is 3 years old. I passed 4 years war, NATO bombing in Belgrade, sister having cancer (she died) - and many other, but this is the worst. I cannot find lawyer, institution to get help. I want to scream really loudl - I feel that I am hitting the wall constantly.

Hi,
I was bullied badly, at a tertiary level, at a small very well known institution in Sydney. The institution thought it was best if I was to defer the year, opposed to the bully who was cuasing the problems, and eventually started what the team uni counselor labeled a "gang war." This effected my course of studies and the repercussions have been extremely difficult. I felt it was unjustified that I was to defer, not the bully.

   As a result of the bullying, I am now suffering body dysmorphic disorder which is completely debilitating, and has left my house bound for the majority of this year. I have pushed my parents, including my father who is a lawyer, to help me to take legal action against the bully, however they think that it would reflect badly on me. I want to be compensated for the year I've lost as well as the damaging psychological effects. I am looking for help and guidance...  please help:(

The sad thing is that even with all the resources available now it is still the Victim that suffers in the end. I have been bullied for the last year.  I work for a Major Bank and sure if its your manager that is Bullying you  report it to their manager but what do they do laugh it off and support each other.  HR supports the Employer not the employees.  There are government departments that investigate but if it is Verbal and psychological it is hard to prove. I have a feeling that this has happened before! But how do I prove it?  As for witnesses the whole office knows about it but everyone is scared and I am not the only one that has been bullied.  If only people would speak out.  There needs to be more education about the Psychological effects of Bullying and penalties for these employers who support bullies.

Hi everyone, I am feeling very stressed and confused about my work situation and the problems I am having. I have been working in an office for nearly 2 years, with a boss who I find to be intimidating. He very often will make comments on my appearance, he will tell me that I look very nice and he can't believe i am single. He is married with 2 children and I feel awkward when he comments in this way. Everyone else brushes it off as him just trying to be nice, and maybe that is true but i don't like it. He also sends very blunt emails telling me to work harder yet he will not give me any guidance or training for me to improve in my job. I am basically left alone to do the work that he decides to throw at me (I never signed any contract or was given a job description). At our last Christmas party he found out that i had gone home with a guy (none of his business - it was out of work time) and the next day at work I realised he had gone and told everyone about it. I felt this was very unprofessional and i was quite upset, especially when he continued to bring it up and joke about it for several days afterwards. I work from 7:30 til 5:00 most days and very rarely do i take more than 10 minutes for a break. He just today sent me an email saying that i should get off Facebook and not say that i am bored at work (I did this once a week ago in my brief break) and he 'cc' everyone in the office in on the email. I felt like he is trying to make me feel intimidated. I have my facebook set to private except for friends & work friends, so someone has gone and told him I had said this. I left very upset, not just because of this but just the constant comments and the lack of support in my job. I have no one to talk to so i don't know if there is anything i can do or if i'm being overly sensitive about it all...

I have been bullied for 4 years by qld corrective services. They then blame you and the ones who did the bullying nothing happened to them and are still in their positions. I was threatened by hr I will never work again and I would have to leave if it happens again, as well as having to be humiliated by a list of lies that under the public sector act your directed to attend their psych. I have now been transfered to another unit after being labeled a whistle blower for complaining about the bullying.
I know exactly how you feel tmc, I still cry now, I couldn't protect myself from the bullies and pack of animals then and it upsets me that I feel violated and feel like I am nothing. They resort you to feeling useless and bad about yourself. My family suffered from seeing me being reduced to tears all the time. I wake up crying and cry out of the blue because I felt unprotected and vulnerable and they took advantage of me. I think it will take a long time to get over this. I know also about the mind games, I used to get these 'things' talk to a prisoner and call that prisoner my name and say how they were suffering from a mental illness right in front of me. If I said anything they would then try and make me doubt myself and say thats not what they said and I was paranoid. Then the ridiculous games they play to make fun of you by telling you anything and lying straight out to you.
Bullying will never stop especially in government departments because they just give lip service to how good they are and get rid of the victim and dont care if they destroy that person.
You know what I started to do, I started putting their names on the internet as bullies and who they worked for. I think we should start up a bullies shame page on the internet and put these mongrols names and positions and departments and what they have done to you on it and send it to everyone and anyone. Make a fool of these fools together.

Hello All

I would like to share my story with all who have been bullied and not been given just relief to their bullying. I am a dual citizen between Australia and the United States, I have been in Australia for 11 years. My experienced at my previous company was unparalleled in both qaulification and education. I left a 6 figure job at another Corporate Travel related company to work at this organization and it was the worst decision of my life. I worked my way up from the bottom in Australia ( factory jobs cleaner jobs, driving cabs etc not good for the self esteem with a BS in Business 10 years management experience) Anyway I was poached by the head of Corporate Sales to work at their head office in Brisbane. The founder of the company is based in Brisabane and the job was in the travel related field.  

The abuse started the very first week I was in the job. Being black american I am used to a fair bit of that nonsense so I just shrugged it of because thats life. Its not right but you have to get used to it. I brought it up with the corporate manager and she said she was aware of it but she had confidence in my ability. Over the next few weeks and months I was subjected to what I can describe as the WORST bullying and abuse I have ever experienced in my life. And that includes living in the American South in the 70's. The managers at this company would regularly refer to anyone of a different race outside of their own as n*gg*rs, monkeys, and coons. 

Managers on this corporate sales team would regularly slander and defame people of all ethnicities and senior management did nothing!  They excluded me from work, stole leads and clients from my book and made false accusations about my work performance. I reported this behaviour to my corporate supervisor and she did nothing. I reported this behavior to the HR department and they did nothing so I began to get assistance for myself at the Assure Program as they use them if you are having problems. This really helped as I was able to get some clarification on what I was going through and what I could do to cope with the problems at work. 

Later I got a new supervisor and the departments were changed around and I thought I was safe for awhile, but my position was changed and I was demoted. I protested but they just did what they wanted even thught I was hitting my sales numbers several people were determined to act against me. I was getting counselling so I was pretty confident that I was handling the situation correctly. Eventually the bullying got out of control and upper management was involved. As it is a publically traded company I have an uphill fight. Workcover denied my claim, but the HREOC is now involved and I have one of the largest law firms in Australia representing me in my complaint on a fee free basis. It has done great and irreparable damage to my self esteem and my confidence but I am in recovery. I am on medication a and I stopped with my self destructive behaviours that were killing me while I was on the job. A big thing with this company is you had to attend these events they called buzz nights were everybody just got drunk and everyone in my department just spent their afterwork time getting smashed all the time. It was ridiculous. 2 sometimes 3 times a week you had to be drinking with someone or somewhere. If you didnt participate you were ostracized. If you were already different that made it worse. After 14 months of this I became suicidal and I was involuntarily hospitalized  after a suicide attempt. It was really bad because the senior management at this organization allowed the bullying and abuse to continue. I applaud all of you who are standing up for yourselves and we must stand for each other regardless of what has happened. There is light at the end of the tunnel sometimes you just need someone to help you light a candle to find it!

Hi lisa 71,

I am really sorry to hear about everything you have been through.  Everyone has the right to work in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence.  Bullying is never ok.

I relly think you should talk about this with your psycologist.  They will be able to help you come up with startegies for dealing with yor anxiety. 

You can also check out this fact sheet we have about dealing with anxiety: http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/anxiety

If you feel like speaking to someone about everything you are going through between visits with your psycologist you can call life line on 13 11 14.  They are super friendly and available 24/7 to support you.

Have you had a look at the above fact sheet on workplace bullying?  It has some handy tips and at the bottom of the page it has lists of organisations you can call for each state.  these organisations will be able to give you advise on how you can deal with the bullying in your workplace.

Keep reaching out
Roisin - RO Crew

I work for a global organisation, have been there for about 12 years, in my current role for just over 1 year.  Last October there was a restructure and found myself working under a different manager.
Shortly after he started calling me into meetings, he would say to me things like I was not capable of doing my role, that if I stayed in the role he would "ride me like a stolen pony" he said I was missing a capability required to do the role, when I asked what that was - he said the fact that I had to ask, proved his point. All of my performance reviews under the previous manager had been above expectations.
He withholds information from me, that would help me do my role, when there was a conference held, all of my peers around Australia attended, I was excluded.
I already had mental health illness, had been doing really well, now I am back taking a higher dose of my medication, seeing my psychologist again - I have really gone down hill.
Just dont know what to do. I know if I raise it they will find a way to get rid me of me. Cant keep going on like this – I love my job, but when I have to meet with my boss I have anxiety attacks. What do I do?

I recently felt I was being bullied at my workplace by 3 managers.  Two of these managers need to provide me with information in order for me to do my job. They were not doing this and when I continuously asked for their assistance I was put off each time.  When the 3rd manager, my actual manager, finally asked me - in front of the other 2 managers and several other people - why my job was not complete and up to date I explained I was working with them to find a time suiting their schedules to discuss what I needed - henceforth he started accusing me of not doing enough or requesting from them the information needed.  Neither of the two came forth to state otherwise and I was left looking like the idiot not doing their job.  He further insulted me by demanding I leave the meeting and go directly to their desks and await their arrival.
I did this fighting back tears as it quite often happens in this workplace where you are made to wear the blame and or humiliation which belongs to certain managers.
I sat waiting at their desks for about 15 minutes - when they finally arrived I asked for the required information which they quickly responded with "we will get back to you later today" then laughed and walked away.

Feeling at an all time low (as this is not the only time these three have done something like this to me) I went straight to the People & Culture Manager.  I poured my heart out, and told her everything that they had ever done to me over the past 5 years - this last being the straw breaking the camels back.
After a great discussion she asked me if I wanted to make this a formal complaint -  It was decided she would discuss this with my manager - keeping all confidential and nothing further to happen until she got back to me.
The very next morning I was called into my managers office and told of his having discussed my issues with the other 2 managers involved and the three of them had decided I was not right in what I had said.  He then stated my job has now changed.  I left in tears - about an hour later I was called back into his office and told the People and Culture Manager had advise him he was wrong in what he had done as this was supposed to be confidential - he stated he told her that I was fine with it - I then stated NO you are wrong I am not fine with it, but he would not let me speak and asked me to leave his office.
I then went back to the People and Culture manager who advised me to keep things confidential I should have made the complaint formal! 
My job is now being phased out - I have no idea if or for how long I will be working there - I do not feel this was handled correctly - I am not well.

As a HR professional I know the law about bullying, but when it happens to you it all goes out the window and your brain turns to mash. I have been bullied for the last 10months when taking a promotion with a company I had worked with for five years, mind games from a person in my department who has now become my manager and it has got worse. Now the GM is buying into it and emotionally attacked me over a four day period when we were away for a team building trip and did this in front of other team members. One team member asked me to confront him in front of everyone but it just made things worse, I cryed for two of those nights and had a headache the whole time. I was always that strong Hr person that others counted on for advice, now I am a mess and hate going to work. I am lucky I have friends that pointed me into the direction of a doctor, I am hoping that will help because this built up stress an unhappiness goes home with me and my poor family also suffer by seeing me a total mess.

Dear Rachael,
The same thing happened to me. The person you described could be identical.  The only difference is that the management and HR department  in the NSW public hospital turned it into a performance issue and terminated me without any right of reply.  The bullying colleague also had a gang behind her.  I know exactly how you feel.  What do we do about it?  No-one seems to be able to do anyting and the victim is the one who gets punished. It is sad when the victim is treated like a criminal.  It has made me sick and lacking in self confidence.  Trusting anyone is way out the window.  Oh Boy.  These people are supposed to be mature adults.   

To rikt.
I wish you all the luck in your fight.