Are You Being Bullied?
Let’s face it.
It’s hard to be happy when you work in a toxic environment.
When Cindy (not her real name) attended her first personal coaching session with me, she didn’t have to tell me she wasn’t happy. It was written all over her face. Her body language shouted it out.
Things were spiraling out of control at work. Her boss had given her a negative appraisal in front of her colleagues. Cindy retaliated by confronting her boss and making an official complaint. It was investigated. Nothing concrete came out of it and Cindy was demoted.
Cindy’s previous appraisals had been very positive, and there had been no mention of her performance not being up to scratch. If her boss had thought she was not performing, she certainly hadn’t offered any coaching. Was this a personal vendetta and plain bullying?
There has been a rise in reported cases of workplace bullying in Australia in recent years. A survey conducted in the UK by UNISON revealed that in over 80% of bullying cases, the perpetrator was a manager. More alarming is that in most cases, senior management was aware of the bullying but did nothing about it.
Bullying can take many forms from inappropriate public dressing downs, to unexplained job changes and unfair assessment procedures.
Not surprisingly, many people who experience workplace bullying end up changing jobs. If you choose to stay, know your rights and exercise your judgment. Work through procedures established in your workplace about bullying or seek an arbitration service.
Back to Cindy, I’m pleased to report that she has been offered a new job and is very excited about making a fresh start.