Bullying at work - how to play it

DVardysShadow

NoNoDrama wrote: »

...
One other option is back-chat ... I'm quite good at this maybe responding to her with some quick witty responses will help? Humiliate her infront of the team like she does with me...maybe she will lay off then?

As you are thinking of walking out anyway, you have very little to lose and no further reason to be timid. I would not recommend the backchat. I would recommend a stern lecture, telling the offender that their position did not permit them to speak to you in such a way.

If you are up for it, the place to pitch it is to be as blunt and direct as you possibly can, without swearing or being offensive and only saying things which are supportable in truth. That way, you destroy the office cred of the person, without yourself having done anything wrong.

Savvy_Sue

NoNoDrama wrote: »

I wouldn't hand in my notice, just leave. Maybe it's better to get sacked (after pay day) in my circumstances ? As i'll be needing to sign on until I find something else.

either way, DWP will check with your previous employer, and if you were sacked or just walked out, you could be sanctioned.

plus you'll then be looking for work while unemployed, which is harder than looking for work while still in work.

plus you won't have a reference.

plus if you're paid on 20th for the period to the end of the month they will want some of it back.

have you talked to other colleagues? is she like this with others? or all new starters?

jay_1978

She is feeding off your fear, The only real solution is to lay into her verbally and let the others see your action, The only thing with bosses bullying is it gives the go-ahead for other workers to think your weak and they also can get a kick out of making your life miserable. I can personally speak from experience of what your going through but I am the kinda person who won't be put down by anyone despite the position they hold, Trust me just snap one day and give her some of her own medicine. Good luck :-)

MrChandlerBing

When you leave state that the bullying is the reason you are leaving

warehouse

If you do end up leaving then please look up something called an annoyatron.

NoNoDrama

Thanks for the replies.

How far can I push the backchat without being sacked? If I keep it non-offensive will it be ok?(not that I'm bothered about being sacked but don't want to give her the satisfaction of me having to go through the humiliation of me being escorted of the premises etc) I've seen one instance of her billeting someone else and also stories of a chap who left under mysterious circumstances just before me. He had called a customer a bad name over the phone. People on the team said they never thought he would do that he was such a nice, quiet guy etc. Sounds to me he reached the end of the line and thought sod it.

I'm quite friendly with one team member so have got an inside track. The others are pretty much under her spell the team 2nd is becomingly increasingly aggressive she has given him license to be a complete c**t basically. (sorry, language).

I get the impression I'm not the first. I've never experienced anything like this before, shocked it can happen at such a big company.

bluetownbarry

NoNoDrama wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

How far can I push the backchat without being sacked? If I keep it non-offensive will it be ok?(not that I'm bothered about being sacked but don't want to give her the satisfaction of me having to go through the humiliation of me being escorted of the premises etc) I've seen one instance of her billeting someone else and also stories of a chap who left under mysterious circumstances just before me. He had called a customer a bad name over the phone. People on the team said they never thought he would do that he was such a nice, quiet guy etc. Sounds to me he reached the end of the line and thought sod it.

I'm quite friendly with one team member so have got an inside track. The others are pretty much under her spell the team 2nd is becomingly increasingly aggressive she has given him license to be a complete c**t basically. (sorry, language).

I get the impression I'm not the first. I've never experienced anything like this before, shocked it can happen at such a big company.

I get the impression I'm not the first. I've never experienced anything like this before, shocked it can happen at such a big company

There in is the answer to your problem;

For my two penneth worth I wouldn't walk out. The only person not to gain from this will be yourself. I would neither recommend 'back chat' - this could work against you as she may well put a complaint in against you!

You've got nothing to lose by putting in a greivance. As you work for a large national company, it shouldn't be too difficult finding out what their greivance &/or harrasment procedure is. Beforehand, start building up a diary of times/dates and what was said. If there's witnesses put down was who was there as well.

Finally, I would send a copy of the greivance to the head office HR department as well.

The fact is if she's worked for them for four years, she may well have plenty of complaints against her.

They may well offer you a solution, i.e. transferring to a different shift etc which could solve your problem.

Why should this bully be allowed to continue & you suffer. Also by doing nothing, what about the next poor sod that comes after you?

Stay strong & don't let the b*ggers grind you down!

gwen80

NoNoDrama wrote: »

I get the impression I'm not the first. I've never experienced anything like this before, shocked it can happen at such a big company.

Oh it does...

Sambucus_Nigra

Yeah, but - how is she bullying you?

hippygran

Hi NoNoDrama

Most bullies actually like to know that their actions DO upset you, so try not to let her see you are upset!

Regarding back chat just be very careful of what you say and how you say it.

It is possible to be firm without being aggressive.

There would be nothing wrong in saying to her that you object to her tone/manner, as long as you are not arguing or refusing to carry out instructions she is giving you.

You may find that by standing up to her it will be sufficient to get her off your back.

However, if she uses offensive language to you, then you should raise a grievance, and if she also bullies other members of staff, perhaps others would also raise a grievance at the same time.

If its a large company, you would expect their HR department to be more than capable of dealing with this. You should have in possession a staff handbook, or at the very least literature in your place of work, which will give full details of the company's policies, including the one they should have on 'bullying and harassment in the work place'.

In my last company, the guidelines in this policy were SO strict, that a bunch of us, (including me as the manager), felt unable to go out socially without inviting a girl we didn't particularly like (nor dislike - she was quite standoffish so we didn't know her very well), because the policy stated that 'exclusion' was included in the company definition of bullying.

That being the case, I'm pretty certain verbal abuse, telling off in front of others e.t.c. would all be described as bullying.

Hope this helps.:)