Is this workplace bullying?

Legacy_user

A new position has arisen in our company, A job I am more than qualified for and better paid, infact as I have mentioned before I am the only current employee who is, yet due to favoritism in our company I am at the bottom of the ladder,

I asked the boss

"could I apply",
he said
"yes but you wont get it as I need you to do what you are doing",
I said
"well could the new person not do my job then?",
he said
"No he wont want that job as he is qualified etc,
I said
"so am I infact I am the only person in here who is",
he said
"No I need you to do your job" and walked off

I actually think this is a case of bullying, but proving it would be hard, why is it any new employees that start, start above me? Including trainees, Why is it I never get any overtime? Why is my work checked daily? The major thing here that makes me think I am being bullied or picked on is, as I have mentioned before I am most experienced and qualified yet never get anywhere.

jazzyman01

Cant see that it is bullying but you may have a case for unfair treatment. You need to really sit down and see if you can answer the questions you have posed. If not, have a chat with your manager and raise the issues. If not satisfied with response, then you can put in a formal grievance. Most companies allow the grievance to be directed to someone other than your boss if it is he/she against whom the grievance is raised.

You need to be prepared for the response that you may not be as good as you think and that you are not getting further because of your speed at doing the work, ability to learn new things etc. Would add that this should have been brought to your attention if that is the case.

System

jazzyman01 wrote: »

Cant see that it is bullying but you may have a case for unfair treatment. You need to really sit down and see if you can answer the questions you have posed. If not, have a chat with your manager and raise the issues. If not satisfied with response, then you can put in a formal grievance. Most companies allow the grievance to be directed to someone other than your boss if it is he/she against whom the grievance is raised.

You need to be prepared for the response that you may not be as good as you think and that you are not getting further because of your speed at doing the work, ability to learn new things etc. Would add that this should have been brought to your attention if that is the case.

Thats what I thought, I think the real reason is, when I applied for my job several years ago, it was a different job I applied for, once I got the job, a relative of the employer needed a job, he got my job as he's family, I got a make shift role, I let this run a week then tackled the boss about it, things got heated, he didn't like me confronting him and I think thats the reason he has always held me back. But again couldn't prove this. But I have since come to learn since working there if you get on the wrong side of the boss thats you royally screwed,

borders_dude

Bullying? What a load of waffle!

potnoodleprincess

borders_dude wrote: »

Bullying? What a load of waffle!

Slightly uncalled for !

I think you could do with sitting down with your manager in a prepared and constructive way and clarifying a lot of points, I dont think its bullying but its not good practice

Savvy_Sue

nirelandguy wrote: »

I asked the boss

"could I apply",
he said
"yes but you wont get it as I need you to do what you are doing",
I said
"well could the new person not do my job then?",
he said
"No he wont want that job as he is qualified etc,

So have they already decided who to employ in the new role?

nirelandguy wrote: »

I said
"so am I infact I am the only person in here who is",

Who is what?

System

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

So have they already decided who to employ in the new role?

Who is what?

Has qualifications in the particular field

thursday

nirelandguy wrote: »

A new position has arisen in our company, A job I am more than qualified for and better paid, infact as I have mentioned before I am the only current employee who is, yet due to favoritism in our company I am at the bottom of the ladder,

I asked the boss

"could I apply",
he said
"yes but you wont get it as I need you to do what you are doing",
I said
"well could the new person not do my job then?",
he said
"No he wont want that job as he is qualified etc,
I said
"so am I infact I am the only person in here who is",
he said
"No I need you to do your job" and walked off

I actually think this is a case of bullying, but proving it would be hard, why is it any new employees that start, start above me? Including trainees, Why is it I never get any overtime? Why is my work checked daily? The major thing here that makes me think I am being bullied or picked on is, as I have mentioned before I am most experienced and qualified yet never get anywhere.

This does sound rather blatant and unfair.
I'd write to the boss, friendly cheerful letter reminding him of your conversation and listing questions and his responses, stating that the letter is purely for "your and his records"....this should do the trick, if not, it would be start point for your action, which, providing all you said here is true, is due.
best of luck

bendix

nirelandguy wrote: »

A new position has arisen in our company, A job I am more than qualified for and better paid, infact as I have mentioned before I am the only current employee who is, yet due to favoritism in our company I am at the bottom of the ladder,

I asked the boss

"could I apply",
he said
"yes but you wont get it as I need you to do what you are doing",
I said
"well could the new person not do my job then?",
he said
"No he wont want that job as he is qualified etc,
I said
"so am I infact I am the only person in here who is",
he said
"No I need you to do your job" and walked off

I actually think this is a case of bullying, but proving it would be hard, why is it any new employees that start, start above me? Including trainees, Why is it I never get any overtime? Why is my work checked daily? The major thing here that makes me think I am being bullied or picked on is, as I have mentioned before I am most experienced and qualified yet never get anywhere.

I think you have a victimisation mentality. Why on earth do you think this constitutes bullying?

He wants you to do the job you are paid to do.

If you don't like it, quit and go somewhere else if you're so well-qualified.

onlyforboards_2

bendix wrote: »

I think you have a victimisation mentality. Why on earth do you think this constitutes bullying?

He wants you to do the job you are paid to do.

If you don't like it, quit and go somewhere else if you're so well-qualified.

It is bullying, interestingly it is attracting replies like yours which are typical of secondary remarks made by bully consorts.

The OP is entitled to apply for the new job in the company, no matter what the manager wants. No one has to remain in one role because they are paid to do it. :rolleyes: The OP does not have to leave the company to progress if there are suitable progression avenues within the company. To suggest so is unfair and of course can be perceived as bullying.

Pete111

The real isue here is why the manager felt this was a good way to handle the conversation. Perhaps he though honesty was the best policy but a clever Mgr would have played this rather better...even caught on the hop.

Not sure this would be classed as bullying per se. However, it could be the catalyst for claim for constructive dismissal if the OP was willing to try to push it all the way to grievance and beyond.....or a claim for unfair dismissal if things went badly!!

Very Risky though.

Jazzymans advice re the meeting is probably your best option. It may well not get you the job but at the very least you can reset your relationship with your Mgr on better terms/understnanding and discuss your career progreession properly.