HELP! What can we do?!!!!!!!!!!!!!? One of the Team/Employees sent an email asking for help regarding a Bully Boss at the Lush store in Buford Mall of Georgia the email was sent directly to the Director of HR but no response at all. 6 months later an employee wrote the Boss a letter saying that the 15 employees all had quit because of the bad way she treats everyone and rather than quit like they did could they have a professional conversation- That same day the Manager decided to do a write up and demoted that employee!!! Retaliation obviously!!! SO rather than just rant about this person - I would like to ASK EVERYONE what did You do and is there something else we should do to have someone come address this Bully Boss??? The company was built on No cruelty to animals which means they are against Fur and yet she wears fur to work. She does make overs in the store but she puts her MAC makeup in Lush containers!!! How rong is that!?

I feel like I am the target at my work place. I work during my lunch hour and my work still does not get done completely. my boss keeps aggressively pressuring me that my work needs to get done. I do authorization processing for a rehab center. What can I do to stop this matter. my boss yelled at me during one of our meeting - blaming me for loosing patients and having the possibility of lowering wages and laying off staff. is this considered bulying because its humiliating- and what can i do. 

Bullying and sexual harassment has been going on since the 80s at least.  Unfortunately, reporting to HR can sometimes work against you.  HR is often there to protect the company, not the employee.  My suggestion- have a plan B and get a different job.

Ann "Denver job search coach"  http://www.annwagnerlive.com

Thank you for this important survey and article. There is a new petition initiative that hope to gain enough momentum to compel the Obama Administration to create a national response to workplace bullying. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/protect-us-workers/

I was thrown into an upper management position running a facility suddenly during a hostile company takeoever for over three months. I had little resources, and no help.I was to be the assistant when the new company found a new director. I managed to do a good job, but the new owners wanted "new blood" in the facility.I was fired from the assistant position because i was not a "good fit", and I was offered aconsiderable lower paying position as a unit manager.I declined. I worked as a per diem employee. Several months later the new boss accused me of sabitaging the facility because I was "highly intelligent and didn't take the unit manager position." Since this incident the faciliity has not offered me any time in my per diem position. I am insulted because they hired an employee with no experience as the assistant who asks me for assistance with everything. Should I resign from my current position.

I am an employee with an electrical department. I am the only woman. I am older, and they are mostly young, but at same level of trade experience. Because I am married I don't go out clubbing, don't drink and cavort with them. I respect my husband and don't say bad things about him. Daily I put up with their ranting and raving about how their wives treat them badly, how they hate women telling them what to do. I am an apprentice and every word I say is taken as a judgement on their work but really it's just questions or noting things aloud about how one person works that way and another work another way and trying to navigate the way to the best work possible. The young guys make very sexist comments all the time and I know of several instances where they talk behind my back saying I'm a bitch. I follow company policy to the letter, do good work, work hard and don't take shit. My boss tells me I have an attitude problem since I'm obviously not getting along with the guys. I tell him I have difficulty dealing with people who are lazy, who endanger my safety, and who are making sexist judgements about me. I am told that I am too smart for my own good and that I should not speak. So here I am, relegated to not having an opinion or speaking, and seeing the double standard applied, seeing all the men get away with murder. It's despicable. What makes them think they should treat the women in their family with respect but makes them think they can treat women in their workplace like garbage?

I worked for GMAC in Atlanta GA where I was bullied extensively for two years.
I knew when I started at the company that the work environment was extremely toxic and bullying behaviors were actually modeled and encouraged by the senior management team. I tried to encourage change but one person against many proved to be a lost cause and I quickly gave up. The bullying began with my immediate manager and by the time I left, pretty much all employees were involved. And the sad part about it, I was a member of the management team. I went through the proper channels in elevating my concerns and problems and of course, HR was insensitive and nothing changed. Actually it became worse!

The toll that bullying takes on the victim can be extreme. I expierenced most of them. For example, loss of hair, extreme migraine headaches, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawl. I eventually decided to leave the company and am still working through the emotional scars that were left as a result of the bullying and harrassment. I was so glad to learn that many states are considering enacting legislation against bullying in the workplace, but it is years off. In the interim, companies continue to allow this type of behavior to go on and the lives of the victims continue to be negatively impacted. And in a tough economy where jobs are scarce-simply quitting a job without the prospect of a new job opens the door for a whole new set of problems.

I think we need to start putting these companies on blast that allow these types of behaviors. Perhaps drumming up some negative publicity for them and people will think twice about doing business with them or even working for them. Companies have become so money hungry that they have turned a blind eye to what is really important at the end of the day- the people that make the company successful in the first place- their employees.

I AM AN EMPLOEE AT A RETAIL STORE.IVE BEEN THERE 3.5 YEARS NOW .TODAY I SHOWED UP FOR WORK A MINUTE LATE AND MY MANAGER WAS STANDING OUTSIDE WAITING FOR ME .YELLS IN MY FACE YOUR LATE.ON TUESDAY WE GET OUR TRUCK I WAS TAKING CARE OF ITEMS OFF MY CART AND PUTTING THEM IN THE SHELVE MY MANAGER APPROACHES ME AND PICKS UP A BATH SPONGE OFF MY CART AND SAYS ARE YOU BUYING THIS.LAST WEEK I ASKED FOR CHANGE FOR MY CASHEIR DRAW.I COUNTED IT AND TOLD HER YOU GAVE ME 5.00 TOO MUCH SHE SAID NO I SAID YES ITS STILL IN MY HAND WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECOUNT IT SHE COMES OVE AND SNAGS THE 5.00 OUT OF MY HAND SHE THEN CALLS THE OFFICE SAYS ONE WORD TO THE MANAGER NO,I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE EVEN WANTING TO GO THERE EVERY DAY WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THIS HARRASSMENT ON THE JOB

My coworker has accused me of being the bully. The coworker consistently does not follow through on jobs assigned to them, "forgets" or said they did not know what the assignment was, so in turn does not do them at all. They also say they didn't know something was going on that day when it's a routine (every year for example this event takes place. We have calendars, meetings, minutes from meetings, and newsletters that all discuss upcoming events. As the supervisor, it is my job to follow through on complaints or when an employee continuously does not do what is asked of them (or if they volunteer to do something, and do not do it). Is there a reason why things were not completed, what can we do to help them get their assignments done, would they like a "lighter" workload. If I ask one question as to why something was not completed (and I am extremely careful in how I address it)I am labeled as being aggressive and a bully. They are strong accusations that I do not wish to carry. What can I do to protect myself from a harassment suit? This person has now made up lies about me that makes me look as if I really am a bully, but I'm not. It's just the 2 of us, so it's their words against mine. The employee is very passive aggressive and does things to make our workplace fail. Because I am an outgoing personality, I am being labeled the bully. HELP!

I am being left note's from a co-worker I have been harrassed for 8 month's.Now she has put her 2 week's notice in and she is worse with the note's.I have been to both my bosses,which are the owners they say ignore her everytime,What can I do?

"Workplace violence is any act against an employee that creates a hostile work environment and negatively affects the employee either physically or psychologically. Bullying is a non-homicidal form of violence and a systematic campaign that jeopardizes your health, your career, your family and the job you once loved. And because it is violent, emotional and physical harm results". (www.workplacebullying.org)

To date I know of 9 employees within the company that have been subjected to some form of repeated harassing, malicious, cruel and humiliating attempts to undermine them by their management all within the same department. Having personally worked with 7 of these wonderful people I can attest to their character, professionalism, skill, loyalty and genuine care for the people in the community. Three weeks ago one of these employees was terminated after 38 years of excellent service to this institution. Prior to her being terminated she was emotionally tormented for months. She would be called into meetings and yelled at, lied about and threatened with termination. She was humiliated and tormented by words, intonations attacks on her character even though her work performance in the past was great. Another employee from the same department was terminated last week. I was terminated 2 1/2 years ago after 28 years of employment at this facility. Like everyone else my evaluation were great, coworkers enjoyed working with me and my patients appreciated all that I did for them. I received a large pay raise 5 months before the torment began because the management said they appreciated the years of dedication, professionalism and ability to be a team player.
What we all have in common is the fact that we were subjected to an infliction of emotional distress and psychological harassment over a period of time resulting in mental and physical distress. We were all subjected to behavior from the manager that was offensive and threatening. By his words, intonations and actions he created an environment that was hostile and offensive.

Sadly the administration including Human Resources were aware of the hostile work environment created by the manager and other leaders in the same department. We would go to the Vice President of the HR department and beg for the bullying to stop. We pleaded to know what we were doing wrong but vague answers were given, untruths were stated without examples and not one accusation was followed up with any form of investigation. The administration failed to take measures to prevent and abate the problem. We are just sent back to the bully for "conflict resolution". Stopping violence requires more than mere "conflict resolution".

Workplace violence is an occupational and safety health hazard. I would be interested in knowing the cost of the mental and physical ill health that this stress has caused on not only the abused employee but to all the others that witnessed the abuse and were too afraid for their jobs to say anything.

There are presently no laws that can safeguard such behavior. Hopefully with public awareness, a new administration and claims of abuse causing medical malpractice to soar due to bullying employers and patient injury we can say that bullying in the workplace is wrong financially and morally. It shouldn't hurt to go to work.

Thank you.

I can relate to workplace bullying. My boss constantly bullies me and after 10 years I couldn't take it anymore. A couple of weeks ago, I was out for two days for being sick with pneumonia. The entire company knew I have been very sick for three weeks but yet I still came into work. I finally went to the doctor and she I was in very bad shape, I have pneumonia. She said I need to be in bed for a week, I said I can't do that, my boss will not like that, so she said ok two days. So I came back to work, I gave my boss the doctor’s note and he said ”what’s this?” while being annoyed. I said it was
my doctor’s note and it clearly said “WALKING PNEUMONIA, HOME FOR TWO DAYS.” He just tossed it on his desk
like it was nothing. I went back to my desk and brought him the medication I am on as even further proof that
I am very sick. He personally held them in his hands and looked at them. I showed him Fluticasone nasal spray,
Symbicort inhaler, and Levaquin tablets. I also said I have Codien cough syrup at home. I told him I’m on heavy
medication so my head might be cloudy and might not work fast as I usually do. He just waived me off and said
“ok”. I just down at my desk and started working. I had 13 jobs on my desk and was going naturally on my business
working. I even made the mylars and proofs that I couldn’t do the days I was out, that very morning. That took about
an hour. No one complained about me not getting the work they needed. So about 2pm, I am on my third to last job
I had for the pile on my desk. I was waiting for a file from the Steel Dept. that I needed for that particular job. So I had to
wait for a bit so I decided to go online and check my email real quick. That last about 5-10 minutes then I go back to
working on that job. Then the boss send me an email me saying “slow down on the internet, you’re on it too much and
we have a lot of work to do.” I looked around and there was maybe 7 jobs on the table behind me that could be split
between 4 artists in the art department. He accused me of not doing work or being “slow” when I clearly said to him I
am sick and on medication that very morning. I got so fed up with being accused of not doing work, where in 10 years
all I do is work. When I’m done with the work I had, they give me even more to do, and I have never complained.
My blood pressure rose up and I have very high blood pressure and I am on medication for that too.
I wrote back saying that He should just be happy I came into work under my sick condition. I was constantly
coughing and hacking up mucus all day. I just got my things and left for the day at 2:30pm. I was frustrated, sick and confused. I just couldn't take the bullying anymore. So the next morning, I walk in about 9:30pm. I politely asked the boss if we can talk in his office private. His face was already red and
ready to blow up. We sat down and I calmly and politely asked to be laid off and I tried stating my case by saying
I am very sick, mentally and physically, I haven’t been happy working for a long time now...and he didn’t even let
me finish. He got up from his desk, and started yelling at me saying “What the fuck did you mean by that email?”
I said it’s exactly what it meant. I told you I have pneumonia, I should have stayed home for a week instead I came
back to work. I was working. Meanwhile I am still calm, and he is still screaming at me saying “Oh I made you sick!?,
is that it!?” Then I started defending myself and said you know what, yes you, your yelling and this place has stressed
me out to the point it has made me sick and I am on heavy medication. The the boss screams at me
“I’M NOT LAYING YOU OFF!! YOU’RE QUITTING, I’LL MAKE YOU QUIT.” I said I am not quitting, I am not quitter. Then the
boss said “GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY OFFICE ASSHOLE!” He was walking out, then I got up and asked “am I fired now?
Am I fired now?” He’s still yelling at me GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!” Again I asked, “am I fired?” He’s still yelling at me
in the front office, “YOU’RE SUCH AN ASSHOLE! YOU THINK YOU DO ALL THE WORK AROUND HERE RIGHT AND NO ONE
ELSE DOES! RIGHT?” That’s when I had it with the abuse and started defending myself. I said “ That’s right, I do tons of
work For you. After ten years in this place that’s how you treat me? Your best worker!??” Again HE’S SCREAMING AT THE
TOP OF HIS LUNGS “GET THE LUCK OUT OF HERE!!” All this time he was yelling at me like was trash, like garbage, a nobody,
So out shear frustration and defending myself I told him off, I said “ Go luck yourself you piece of hit.” Then he started to
Charge at me with his fist in the air and then stopped, shook his fist at me and said “yeah that’s my boy!
Get the luck out of here!” The whole front office heard it. The production manager, the steel manager, and the secretary
Saw and heard what went down. He disappeared into the art department and as I left, I saw the production manager
laughing about what happened. I have never been yelled and treated like that by anybody in my life. I felt so
humiliated, belittled, scared, confused and saddened. I walked in calm and politely and got treated like trash.

So I go back to after the weekend. I go back to work at my normal time at 8:30am and everyone is shocked that I came back to work. They all thought
that I quit. I told my co-workers I never said I quit nor I was told I was fired that’s why I came back. I found out
through another co-worker that the boss told him Friday “ You’re going have to find a new buddy to eat lunch with
because Frank is out of here!” I sat down at my desk and it was empty. As I was talking with my co-worker the next
desk over, I saw the Art Director was showing a woman around the art department and he was saying “this where we
work, we work with Mac computers, this is the server where the files are, here is the printer where we print out minis.”
Then the art director sees me at my desk and says “Oh, Hi Frank.” I said Hi Steve. He then quickly escorts the woman out.
I believe they were interviewing for my position. I went to the bathroom because I was still coughing mucus and
weezing from pneumonia. As I came back, there was a pile of work on my desk the production manager put. Naturally,
I started working. I went to the salesmen office to talk with one of them. As we talking, I see the boss is standing right
behind me breathing hard and just staring me down. When I was done with the salesman, the boss says “See me in my
office at 10am.” I sat back down at my desk to work. Literally 10 minutes later I’m asked into the boss’ office. This is
at 9:30am. I sat down and he asked me where’s my head at. I said my head’s fine, I am still sick with pneuomonia,
under heavy medication and haven’t slept well since Friday. He then tells me he’s upset with my attitude on Friday.
I said “My attitude? You’re the one who starts screaming at me like was trash, like I was a nobody. I stood up for myself
I have my dignity.” He kept pressing this issue that I abuse the internet. I have never abused the internet. All I do is
work. I pleaded my case to him. I told him go ask the salesmen if they don’t get their work, go ask the mounters if they
don’t get the work from me, go ask anyone in the art department, go call your clients if they don’t get the work from
me. He said “I don’t need to do that.” I said go ask the Quality Control manager if I made any mistakes on jobs. He said
“I don’t need to do that.” Then I asked him why are you accusing me then of not doing my job. I said “How is doing
10 out of 13 jobs in 5 hours not doing my work?” He said my work has slowed down. I told him do you know how
much medication I am on? I can’t work that fast as I normally do. I also told him the doctor said my blood pressure is
170/90. He said I’m close to having a heart attack or stroke and I need to slow down. I told my boss this and he kept
saying again “You’re abusing the internet.” I have told him in the past too I have high blood pressure and taking
medication for it. Now, I’m on four more drugs for my pneumonia He didn’t care to hear it. Then I said, everyone in the
Art Dept. is on the internet while they’re working. I said then you should tell each one of them to get off the internet and
do their jobs. I asked why are you singling me out? All I do is my work with no complaints from anyone. He kept saying
I’m wrong. I said all I do is my work for 10 years and not one complaint. I told him again, please go ask anyone in this place if I have an attitude problem, does anyone have an issue with me.
I am friendly with everyone. The boss said “I don’t need to do that.” Then I said why are you harassing me then?
Last thing I told him was, “In 34 years of my life, neither my father, my mother, family relatives, friends and former
bosses has ever yelled at me like I was trash, like I was garbage, a nobody. I didn’t deserve that.
If you want me here, you have to earn my respect back.” Then the boss said “I’m suspending you two weeks
without pay for insubordination. Then you when you come back you WILL RESPECT ME.” I was completely
calm through out this entire meeting.

I got my stuff from desk and came home. I have never been treated like that in my life. This is a person who will
yell at any body like they are nothing. He has respect for no one. Last year he almost got into a fist fight with
another employee. He verbally abused him too. The only reason why the fight didn’t happen because the
boss was held back. This boss let one employee, in the 10 years I have been there, let this employee write
5 book novels on company time. We, in the art department saw it all, we all complained, this man made so
many mistakes, cost the company a lot of money, and the boss let him slide. For him to accuse me of not working
and abusing the internet is false. I didn’t deserve to be treated like this after 10 years. I’ve done nothing wrong. I never hurt anyone in the
company or the company itself in any shape or form. I defended myself after being treated like was I garbage
by the boss Friday morning. After this, I’m not going back. It has become a hostile work environment for me
and I can’t perform under those conditions, especially while I’m still sick.

I would like to know how to deal with workplace bullying when the bully is another employee. I have been at this job 3wks and already their is a female bully. She has started arguments on the job called me a bitch i report this to the supervisor he did nothing and she admitted she called me a bitch i get doggy stares and she's very confrontational and aggressive she's 41 yrs old so am i and i feel helpless. She already was bullying the other lady now since me and the other lady get along she doesn't like that so she try to make me act out so i can get fired she's terrible but she puts a sweet face on for the supervisor and others.

I sow all comments it's really surprising me because i thought it's happen only nursing home, Is it every where? So how we could stop it?
Specially if you are from different country, having an accent worse and the boss mostly side towards the other person than the foreign employee its' painful. What is the solution? pleas share what you know .
Thank you.

Have you gotten accross from lawyers saying (yes lawyers) that a manager or supervisor that screams is not bullying. Or what about those who are straight disrespectful to subordinates, and others? What about those lawyers who say that managers can act the way they want even if it hurts others as long it does not violate civil rights. Meaning that a manager can call you all insults in the book as long it does not make direct reference to your skin color, or national origin, or age is is not illegal..Yeah right. Major legal reform must begin with lawyers. Take their licenses away. Make them go right back to school or simply do not allow them at all. These lawyers today are more concerned about covering each other's butts, and gaining more and more money at the expense of victims. And watch out those incresingly accepting bribes behind closed doors. Something must be done urgently. Tap phone conversations, follow them, question them incesaantly. Just like they do to us. Do not give them a chance. These lawyers have become so savy they know how to play the game. They can distroy you beyond repair and you don't even realize it. This country founded on civil rights protection and constitutional law can't take it no more. My case for instance, one highly meritous was defeated in Federal Court because of my lawyer's ineptness and devious behavior. He misrepresented his capabilities to me. I paid him big money. But ended up completing more than 90% of the work that he was to complete. Then still whines about money and how much I owe him. I already paid him big money. But drained me emotionally and mentally just his whyning about money. Soory mispelled> Anyways, Bar Association, you better start taking our complaints against lawyers more seriously. I know there is a click about You not penalyzing inept lawyers, making it harder for the aggrieved to prove their complaints. But I warn you, better start thinking about reform. Your layers who you endorse and certify are the culprit of the debacle in our legal system as a whole. Taking bribes, buddying and befriending with judges. Not a good scenario. People are getting fed up...We are now heading straight to the Supreme Court to demand our pleas and grievances be attended to properly and rightfully. Why depelting all our resources to these scum bags lawyers (sorry for cursing not my intention).. But as I said I am fed up. tired, numb, depressed about the pain of going thru discrimination, bully all in the workplace. No reason for going thru this just being the preferred scapegoat because of my protected conditions (Hispanic) and other protected clauses. People, if you endured abuse and racism at the hands of your employer, fight back!!! Do not let go. Never !!Even if the courts play you, believe in your convictions. If you felt it and experienced it, it HAPPENED !!! Do not let others tell you that you must have imagined it, or misunderstood it. I rest my case. Thank you Lord!

I worked for a company for almost 10 years as a client/customer service representative. I received appreciation letters, e-mails, phone calls & account managers for these clients to the company about how well I did & much more through the years. My dept. had 2 supervisors who had favorites they ate lunch with, hung out together in the super's office & they were always the ones to train new employees. The training did not bother me since my client load consisted of long time clients sending a lot of work in needing research or problem ones "they were given to me due to my supervisor knew I could handle it & keep them satisfied", she also gave me new clients or returning clients or clients that always sent in "rush" work meaning it had to be done quickly since they charged extra for rushes, to make sure they were all kept satisfied. These supervisors played the favorite employee thing & made it more than obvious. I worked the entire 8 hour shift nonstop taking my morning break sometimes but usually not my afternoon break, I worked so hard I did not even realize it was break time & others were leaving the office for their break. I took short lunches just to get back & get more done. I had surgery & was off for 4 weeks, the doctor would not consider letting me return sooner. when I returned my desk was a disaster, new work that should have already been sent out still stacked up & my other orders had not even been called on. I told my supervisor of one client that stayed on top of their work & checking the computer status notes. Asked her to please make sure that work was kept up on but the 1st day back they were the 1st call received. I had no idea what to say since my mail, new orders & orders I had been working on were all still there as far as I could see. I told the paralegal that I needed to straighten my desk up to see where all orders were & my computer notes were mostly still the last notes I had inputted before I left. But I told her I would get right on her work & see what all I could get out to be done ASAP. Later that day I was called in my supervisor's office & she stated that someone from that firm's administrative office called concerned about there work being so behind while I was out. She wrote me up for telling the paralegal the truth, there was no way of lying about the work it was in the computer notes & they had not received any records since I had been out. I did not blame anyone just explained I needed to straighten out my desk before I could do anything but was right on top of it after I hung up the phone. Another thing that was being done was her favorite's training the new employees were telling these people not to ask me any questions or help out with my work. New employees usually helped out us with the huge work loads to learn from us. I found this out from a new employee that got to know me & had said to another older employee & myself what the trainers were telling new employees not nice things & I had noticed that when I did ask the supervisor for some help there was always a silly excuse as to why they could not help me. I even was explaining something to a new girl one day "who actually understood & learned from me what she needed to know" the other supervisor came up & yelled at me saying what do you think you are doing, you are not to help her out & turned to the new girl & told her not to listen to me in front of all that worked in that section of the offices. The girl came up to me after work that day asking me why she said that "I had no idea" is what I said & asked that supervisor who told me only the trainers can help the new out. I have worked there years longer than the girl that trained her & the girl still was confused. We got to be friends after that & she noticed more & more how crappy I was being treated & that supervisor & the girls in that section of the offices actually talked bad about me during working hours. This kept going on for a very long time, one girl said a custodian told her I cussed in a voice mail message, but what I had done is left an urgent message, never received a call back so I contacted the director who put me through to her supervisor so I could order some x-rays that were not listed & were needed months ago by my client. They suspended me for a day without even checking with the director who I had spoken to & the custodian who never answered her phone & the voice mail I supposedly cussed on was not saved because it was a lie. She was mad that I had to go over her head to obtain the film my client needed. This is taking another employees word against not even mine, I was told what I have to say does not matter. But the director I contacted cleared it all up for me after they spoke to her about the whole thing. The custodian even stated I had never cussed on the voice mail. There was several things like this that happened every so often & it was another employee "one of the favorites" would say something against me & it was never like call this person in & lets all talk this out together. It was their word they went by & to hell with what I had to say. Please take in consideration I came into work; did my work & kept my clients happy. Before I was let go about a month before the president of the company left & there was no exact reason ever told to us, if he retired or the owners let him go "it is a family owned business" but they put their youngest son who ran a dept. there as acting president. This son used to say sexual remarks to me & I told him I had someone & not interested, he kept it up for a while & I never said anything "wrong on my part now" but being his parents that owned the company & I wanted to keep this job, planned on staying there until I could retire I am 51 now. Anyhow most of the things took place after he took over as president. We had a rule for being late, you could be from 3 to 7 minutes late a day but it changed daily so never knew if it was 4 minutes or 6 minutes that day. But after 2 lates in a pay period you would have a day off without pay. I was late 1 time 3 minutes & the other 7 minutes & were legitimate excuses but I was late I took my day off without pay came back & was fired. The acting president stated he was sick of my shit. "he had been president maybe 2 months then" In the last month I was there I received a letter from a client about how good my work was & he thought I deserved a raise "also had written he had never written something like this before but thought it was well deserved". The president accused me of getting this attorney to write the letter. Oh yes, I could really get the main attorney for the firm to write something like this. As well as that I had noticed another client's work sent in was slacking off & inquired about it, asked if it was something I was doing or if there is something that needs to be done. I received an answer back that is was nothing to do with me, they would rather use me at that company but they had realized they were not getting special services that another company did & if we would start providing that service they would switch all work back to our company. This is something the account manager assigned to that firm should have caught & he came to me after I brought it up asking me all sorts of questions. They were not very happy with him as well. The work was starting to pick up again but then I was let go. And in the rule regarding being late it never mentioned that you would be let go after taking a day without pay. I hope this makes sense. I minded my own business the entire time I worked there did my own work with very little help ever & when I was caught up I helped others out. It is funny all the accusations against me were presented to the new president & the past president was always happy with my work & always gave everyone a chance to speak for themselves even after my surgery & I was written up by my supervisor who should have made sure my desk work was handled as much as possible. It just seems & felt to me they were trying to get rid of me after he took over. He now & then had already moved another employee in with him. I was really done wrong & many others there believe it too but what can you do nothing but take the bullying or favoritism they have with some & show it. What happen to working, doing your job good, helping the company's business but because of people who still want to act this way with people "I am not the only one that some of this happen too" & not getting too close but having friends at work is okay but all this is too much. It is very hard to find a job, it will be a year in July & still no job. I feel like giving up altogether with life, feel useless, depressed & that no one wants to hire me. I am a very good worker & my past clients even wrote letters for me to use to help get a job & are my professional references since I worked for them through the company that let me go.

I'm a mid-50s male and I've been bullied twice in the past 10 years, in two very different organisations.
The first time it was overt, almost comical, as pretty much everyone who dealt with the CEO had to deal with her rudeness and rants. I didn't report it.
The second time ws much more insidious, as outlined in many of the points above -- belittling in meetings, false accusations, failure to acknoweldge ideas and input, theft of credit etc. Shortly after I reported this behaviour by my female manager I was put on performance management. HR, of course, sided with the manager.

I've been a fraud investigator full-time and an EMT part-time for over four years now (I previously worked in corrections). I recently went to work for an internationally-renowned financial company after spending three years at a competitor - JP Morgan Chase.

While I was at Chase, there was no bullying policy at all. I was bullied by my coworkers and my supervisor. One coworker did something remarkably sophomoric; he deliberately stirred up trouble between myself and a friend, telling each of us that we both had a crush on the other. In the end I became the running joke in the office. It worsened over time until some of my coworkers were even circulating extremely inappropriate emails about me - some of them including raunchy pictures of overweight women in bikinis, complete with management being copied in the forwards by the senders - on company email.

Nothing was done to stop it. In fact, when I finally requested a transfer to another team I was told there was no way it was going to happen. Most of those involved in bullying me are still in that office and the bosses who encouraged that atmosphere through inaction are still in leadership, while the junior-high behavior has, I'm told, gotten worse.

I expected little different from the company I was hired by just a couple of weeks later. I planned to keep to myself and make no friends for fear of running into the same issue. One month into training, I was thanking my teammates and leadership for fostering a culture of respect that I had never experienced before. It was made obvious from day one that bullying of any kind would never be tolerated and I haven't had a single problem.

People don't realize that singling out a person for gossip and personal attacks actually is bullying and can affect their entire life. Chase needs to fix their policies or they'll keep running into the same issues. My supervisors always remarked that I was a very good worker, but it was always obvious that I was very stressed out...well, wonder no more. The hostile atmosphere that YOU allowed is the cause.

I have been bullied for the last 5 years but two people. I am female, in the target upper age range. I have a high absentism rate, am on anti-depressents, and am looking for another job.

People need workplace etiquette. People need to learn how to work with others respectfully. You don't have to make fun of people, be ignorant, evil or vengeful.

Is it hard to just leave people alone?

Seriously?! This is the most ridiculous article I've seen anyone waste their time writing. "The most common workplace bully is the boss"? Telling you what to do is what a boss does! America has jumped the shark...

Women need to learn to stand up to your boss, if he/she is bullying you!

One time I had a horrific boss. NOBODY, liked this guy at all, even his wife who worked part time in the office.

Once I stood up to him, he literally said to me, "Now I see you completely different." He became much more respectful.

These guys do this deliberately, to see how far they can get away with it.

Ladies, if you lose your job by standing up to him, then the job was not where you belonged in the first place.
I will say, these men are looking to see how tough you are. I say, speak up for yourself, say something back at him/her. STAND UP TO THEM, don't leave until you have your say!

Yes, bullying is highly prevalent in the workplace. I think of it as a form of being discriminated against, and those who are falling victim, should definitely report it.
Businesses are clearly discriminating now, by refusing to hire individuals who are 'older,' meaning 50 and over.
They are going over board by going into potential employers credit background, and eliminating people with just a bad credit report. The only background check employers need to check is criminal. End of story. States need to implement laws that prohibit going into potential employees credit reports, which is a form of bullying, and stop their discriminating behavior.

My former job at Strand Bookstore was nothing but BULLYING! I endure it for years! And if you have a Disability, You get it, twice as BAD! Just remember when walk in to sell your books. The BIGGEST BULLY SITS RIGHT THERE! THE OWNER OF STRAND BOOKS!! The old BASTARD HIMSELF!!!!!!

What Nadine says really hit home for me -- the truth is that women bullies are a special excalibur breed of bully. Tools are IM-ing open gossip (lunchroom culture ugh), shunning - especially at meetings or other public places, abusive language/comments only directed at target, over-playing the charm factor to allies and weak bosses -- if boss is a male, overplaying the decolatage-bust area or short skirt wardrobe choices...my bully was so special she even liked wear an incredible amount of perfume, which gave all of us stomach/head aches. No one dared to speak up (except me, which made me a "trouble maker"). She was buddies with my female boss who told me that I needed to be more of a bitch to match her and the bully's bitch traits, because I was too polite and I made others uncomfortable! My bosses' boss was a weak very short man who drooled after the bully and my boss. Both my bully and my boss wore tight pants/low cut tops to keep him and the other weak men who ran things as allies. Bully women are awful to , competent attractive women co-workers who work quietly and professionally. They don't teach this in college. I started my own business as a result.

I have been bullied myself in the workplace. It is a very unfortunate situation. It is also very scary going to HR or a manager to report this in fear that it's your word against theirs. I think this is a topic companies need to focus more on. All I ever hear about is sexual harrassment. Place some ephasis on this too!

I was bullied and overworked by a local Junior College in Fort Worth Tx. Started in 1990 to 2000. I started in 1972 I was fired in 2000. I received my teacher retirement and health care benefits. It was a terrible time emotionally from 1990 to 1995. My job was my life. They took advantage because I was single and needed the job. No person should have to go through what I did. I wish there could be something that could be done to prevent anyone from that experience. I still have nightmares even now 11 years later. Jan K Fort Worth Texas

Sounds pretty much like my life. After retooling for my third career, I found that I was constantly harassed, intimidated, humilated and denegrated by other staff. When I complained and asked that the issue be addressed, my supervisors called me a trouble maker and started the intimidateion and humilation. I eventually quit and found another job, but now the company follows a policy of management by humilation, imtimidation, harassment and degradation.

Sometimes a person who fails to perform their job gets scolded by their boss and feel they are being bullied. Some people grow up in a house where the parents let them get away with murder and when they get into an office where they are expected to follow policy and are written up when they don't then they feel bullied. I know this because we have a bunch of non-workers in our office and if you say anything to them they throw up the union card or use race or gender.
Grow up everyone. Do your job.

The climate of bullying is getting to be epidemic. Not only the work place, schools, but any customer service interaction, hospitals, government facilities. With economic and environmental stressors, I don't see a cheerful forcast unless we build a consistant leadership policy against it in every sector of life.

I was bullied for 20 years on my job by a coworker. Early on, I did not recognize it as bullying but as the years went by, it continued and escalated. My repeated attempts to get help at work thru reporting him to the supervisor & HR went unheeded. I actually gave the supervisior articles from a bullying website to help explain the nature of what was going on. He did nothing. After going to HR dept., the rep in HR told me I would have to attend a harrassment workshop w/the bullier and also counceling. She told me that his behavior and my problems w/him affect the whole dept. I finally made the decision to go into early retirement. The company fired the bullying party after I turned in my retirement papers. I now have less money, but peace of mind.

The commentator needs to STOP making fun of bullying by teasing his co-host. This is offensive and my family has changed the channel. It is exactly what should not happen - making light of bullying in the face of the death of the college student at Rutgers. Very poor taste.

I read and saw your segment on work place bullying. My son works for Giant Food in Baltimore MD. He is bullied unmercifully by a store manager and a district mgr because of their treatment the co workers have chimed in and publicly ridicule him. This sick DM ridicules him to the core. This is a young man that has won employee of the year at Giant Food and is consistently getting employee of the month

I hate that Mary Lou Quinlan did not answer the question, "Who is doing the bullying" by gender.

It seemed like such an obvious question to answer that its absence felt intentionally misleading (just like the image used for this article).

This explanation that women "feel" more bullied in the workplace than men because women are at the bottom of the totem pole is PURE HOGWASH and OFFENSIVE. Women bully...period. They rarely physically fight so the threat is not there...that makes for an intense verbal and emotional warfare.

If you, as the expert, are not willing to speak the truth because of your personal agenda to keep womanhood on a pedestal, then you are no expert...you're a spindoctor.

This article really hit home for me. I was recently bullied by my boss - who was a female. I am near the 55 age bracket and could not believe that our HR department did nothing for me and ultimely my boss was able to take action to terminate me. It was astounding especially since I had a complaint into our ethics department and yet she was able to get a separation package completed. HR is useless. I had attempted the recommended respectful converstation wtih my leader but it helped for one month and then she was back to bullying me. No one helped me, and I sought help in several places. The entire team saw it and felt bad BUT were in great fear to speak out as this leader had no compuction in yelling and pounding her fist on the conference room table at anyone who questioned her. I lost my position but was able to gain another in the company but at a much lower level. My bigger shock was the lack of any senior management's recognition of a problem. And my company teached and preaches ethical conduct frequently. Eventually after an HR "investigation" I was allowed to be hired by another division BUT nothing happened to the bully except a reassignment - she is still a VP! Now she has a new set of victims. It reminds me of the Catholic Church leadership - stick their heads in the sand and transfer the person to another parish! Amazing!

"Workplace violence is any act against an employee that creates a hostile work environment and negatively affects the employee either physically or psychologically. Bullying is a non-homicidal form of violence and a systematic campaign that jeopardizes your health, your career, your family and the job you once loved. And because it is violent, emotional and physical harm results". (www.workplacebullying.org)

To date I know of 9 employees within the company that have been subjected to some form of repeated harassing, malicious, cruel and humiliating attempts to undermine them by their management all within the same department. Having personally worked with 7 of these wonderful people I can attest to their character, professionalism, skill, loyalty and genuine care for the people in the community. Three weeks ago one of these employees was terminated after 38 years of excellent service to this institution. Prior to her being terminated she was emotionally tormented for months. She would be called into meetings and yelled at, lied about and threatened with termination. She was humiliated and tormented by words, intonations attacks on her character even though her work performance in the past was great. Another employee from the same department was terminated last week. I was terminated 2 1/2 years ago after 28 years of employment at this facility. Like everyone else my evaluation were great, coworkers enjoyed working with me and my patients appreciated all that I did for them. I received a large pay raise 5 months before the torment began because the management said they appreciated the years of dedication, professionalism and ability to be a team player.
What we all have in common is the fact that we were subjected to an infliction of emotional distress and psychological harassment over a period of time resulting in mental and physical distress. We were all subjected to behavior from the manager that was offensive and threatening. By his words, intonations and actions he created an environment that was hostile and offensive.

Sadly the administration including Human Resources were aware of the hostile work environment created by the manager and other leaders in the same department. We would go to the Vice President of the HR department and beg for the bullying to stop. We pleaded to know what we were doing wrong but vague answers were given, untruths were stated without examples and not one accusation was followed up with any form of investigation. The administration failed to take measures to prevent and abate the problem. We are just sent back to the bully for "conflict resolution". Stopping violence requires more than mere "conflict resolution".

Workplace violence is an occupational and safety health hazard. I would be interested in knowing the cost of the mental and physical ill health that this stress has caused on not only the abused employee but to all the others that witnessed the abuse and were too afraid for their jobs to say anything.

There are presently no laws that can safeguard such behavior. Hopefully with public awareness, a new administration and claims of abuse causing medical malpractice to soar due to bullying employers and patient injury we can say that bullying in the workplace is wrong financially and morally. It shouldn't hurt to go to work.

Thank you.

I can relate to workplace bullying. My boss constantly bullies me and after 10 years I couldn't take it anymore. A couple of weeks ago, I was out for two days for being sick with pneumonia. The entire company knew I have been very sick for three weeks but yet I still came into work. I finally went to the doctor and she I was in very bad shape, I have pneumonia. She said I need to be in bed for a week, I said I can't do that, my boss will not like that, so she said ok two days. So I came back to work, I gave my boss the doctor’s note and he said ”what’s this?” while being annoyed. I said it was
my doctor’s note and it clearly said “WALKING PNEUMONIA, HOME FOR TWO DAYS.” He just tossed it on his desk
like it was nothing. I went back to my desk and brought him the medication I am on as even further proof that
I am very sick. He personally held them in his hands and looked at them. I showed him Fluticasone nasal spray,
Symbicort inhaler, and Levaquin tablets. I also said I have Codien cough syrup at home. I told him I’m on heavy
medication so my head might be cloudy and might not work fast as I usually do. He just waived me off and said
“ok”. I just down at my desk and started working. I had 13 jobs on my desk and was going naturally on my business
working. I even made the mylars and proofs that I couldn’t do the days I was out, that very morning. That took about
an hour. No one complained about me not getting the work they needed. So about 2pm, I am on my third to last job
I had for the pile on my desk. I was waiting for a file from the Steel Dept. that I needed for that particular job. So I had to
wait for a bit so I decided to go online and check my email real quick. That last about 5-10 minutes then I go back to
working on that job. Then the boss send me an email me saying “slow down on the internet, you’re on it too much and
we have a lot of work to do.” I looked around and there was maybe 7 jobs on the table behind me that could be split
between 4 artists in the art department. He accused me of not doing work or being “slow” when I clearly said to him I
am sick and on medication that very morning. I got so fed up with being accused of not doing work, where in 10 years
all I do is work. When I’m done with the work I had, they give me even more to do, and I have never complained.
My blood pressure rose up and I have very high blood pressure and I am on medication for that too.
I wrote back saying that He should just be happy I came into work under my sick condition. I was constantly
coughing and hacking up mucus all day. I just got my things and left for the day at 2:30pm. I was frustrated, sick and confused. I just couldn't take the bullying anymore. So the next morning, I walk in about 9:30pm. I politely asked the boss if we can talk in his office private. His face was already red and
ready to blow up. We sat down and I calmly and politely asked to be laid off and I tried stating my case by saying
I am very sick, mentally and physically, I haven’t been happy working for a long time now...and he didn’t even let
me finish. He got up from his desk, and started yelling at me saying “What the fuck did you mean by that email?”
I said it’s exactly what it meant. I told you I have pneumonia, I should have stayed home for a week instead I came
back to work. I was working. Meanwhile I am still calm, and he is still screaming at me saying “Oh I made you sick!?,
is that it!?” Then I started defending myself and said you know what, yes you, your yelling and this place has stressed
me out to the point it has made me sick and I am on heavy medication. The the boss screams at me
“I’M NOT LAYING YOU OFF!! YOU’RE QUITTING, I’LL MAKE YOU QUIT.” I said I am not quitting, I am not quitter. Then the
boss said “GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY OFFICE ASSHOLE!” He was walking out, then I got up and asked “am I fired now?
Am I fired now?” He’s still yelling at me GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!” Again I asked, “am I fired?” He’s still yelling at me
in the front office, “YOU’RE SUCH AN ASSHOLE! YOU THINK YOU DO ALL THE WORK AROUND HERE RIGHT AND NO ONE
ELSE DOES! RIGHT?” That’s when I had it with the abuse and started defending myself. I said “ That’s right, I do tons of
work For you. After ten years in this place that’s how you treat me? Your best worker!??” Again HE’S SCREAMING AT THE
TOP OF HIS LUNGS “GET THE LUCK OUT OF HERE!!” All this time he was yelling at me like was trash, like garbage, a nobody,
So out shear frustration and defending myself I told him off, I said “ Go luck yourself you piece of hit.” Then he started to
Charge at me with his fist in the air and then stopped, shook his fist at me and said “yeah that’s my boy!
Get the luck out of here!” The whole front office heard it. The production manager, the steel manager, and the secretary
Saw and heard what went down. He disappeared into the art department and as I left, I saw the production manager
laughing about what happened. I have never been yelled and treated like that by anybody in my life. I felt so
humiliated, belittled, scared, confused and saddened. I walked in calm and politely and got treated like trash.

So I go back to after the weekend. I go back to work at my normal time at 8:30am and everyone is shocked that I came back to work. They all thought
that I quit. I told my co-workers I never said I quit nor I was told I was fired that’s why I came back. I found out
through another co-worker that the boss told him Friday “ You’re going have to find a new buddy to eat lunch with
because Frank is out of here!” I sat down at my desk and it was empty. As I was talking with my co-worker the next
desk over, I saw the Art Director was showing a woman around the art department and he was saying “this where we
work, we work with Mac computers, this is the server where the files are, here is the printer where we print out minis.”
Then the art director sees me at my desk and says “Oh, Hi Frank.” I said Hi Steve. He then quickly escorts the woman out.
I believe they were interviewing for my position. I went to the bathroom because I was still coughing mucus and
weezing from pneumonia. As I came back, there was a pile of work on my desk the production manager put. Naturally,
I started working. I went to the salesmen office to talk with one of them. As we talking, I see the boss is standing right
behind me breathing hard and just staring me down. When I was done with the salesman, the boss says “See me in my
office at 10am.” I sat back down at my desk to work. Literally 10 minutes later I’m asked into the boss’ office. This is
at 9:30am. I sat down and he asked me where’s my head at. I said my head’s fine, I am still sick with pneuomonia,
under heavy medication and haven’t slept well since Friday. He then tells me he’s upset with my attitude on Friday.
I said “My attitude? You’re the one who starts screaming at me like was trash, like I was a nobody. I stood up for myself
I have my dignity.” He kept pressing this issue that I abuse the internet. I have never abused the internet. All I do is
work. I pleaded my case to him. I told him go ask the salesmen if they don’t get their work, go ask the mounters if they
don’t get the work from me, go ask anyone in the art department, go call your clients if they don’t get the work from
me. He said “I don’t need to do that.” I said go ask the Quality Control manager if I made any mistakes on jobs. He said
“I don’t need to do that.” Then I asked him why are you accusing me then of not doing my job. I said “How is doing
10 out of 13 jobs in 5 hours not doing my work?” He said my work has slowed down. I told him do you know how
much medication I am on? I can’t work that fast as I normally do. I also told him the doctor said my blood pressure is
170/90. He said I’m close to having a heart attack or stroke and I need to slow down. I told my boss this and he kept
saying again “You’re abusing the internet.” I have told him in the past too I have high blood pressure and taking
medication for it. Now, I’m on four more drugs for my pneumonia He didn’t care to hear it. Then I said, everyone in the
Art Dept. is on the internet while they’re working. I said then you should tell each one of them to get off the internet and
do their jobs. I asked why are you singling me out? All I do is my work with no complaints from anyone. He kept saying
I’m wrong. I said all I do is my work for 10 years and not one complaint. I told him again, please go ask anyone in this place if I have an attitude problem, does anyone have an issue with me.
I am friendly with everyone. The boss said “I don’t need to do that.” Then I said why are you harassing me then?
Last thing I told him was, “In 34 years of my life, neither my father, my mother, family relatives, friends and former
bosses has ever yelled at me like I was trash, like I was garbage, a nobody. I didn’t deserve that.
If you want me here, you have to earn my respect back.” Then the boss said “I’m suspending you two weeks
without pay for insubordination. Then you when you come back you WILL RESPECT ME.” I was completely
calm through out this entire meeting.

I got my stuff from desk and came home. I have never been treated like that in my life. This is a person who will
yell at any body like they are nothing. He has respect for no one. Last year he almost got into a fist fight with
another employee. He verbally abused him too. The only reason why the fight didn’t happen because the
boss was held back. This boss let one employee, in the 10 years I have been there, let this employee write
5 book novels on company time. We, in the art department saw it all, we all complained, this man made so
many mistakes, cost the company a lot of money, and the boss let him slide. For him to accuse me of not working
and abusing the internet is false. I didn’t deserve to be treated like this after 10 years. I’ve done nothing wrong. I never hurt anyone in the
company or the company itself in any shape or form. I defended myself after being treated like was I garbage
by the boss Friday morning. After this, I’m not going back. It has become a hostile work environment for me
and I can’t perform under those conditions, especially while I’m still sick.

I would like to know how to deal with workplace bullying when the bully is another employee. I have been at this job 3wks and already their is a female bully. She has started arguments on the job called me a bitch i report this to the supervisor he did nothing and she admitted she called me a bitch i get doggy stares and she's very confrontational and aggressive she's 41 yrs old so am i and i feel helpless. She already was bullying the other lady now since me and the other lady get along she doesn't like that so she try to make me act out so i can get fired she's terrible but she puts a sweet face on for the supervisor and others.

Then after the bullying experience you are a total wreck. You can't seem to stop denouncing what they have done to you. you post in every forum, file every complaint, go to your Union, speak to your priest, to firnds, to family, to neighbors. The pain is so great that you feel you can't carry it alone. You need others to know what this dispecable hatred can cause to you. The bully is disguised, hidden, coward. Most pervasive acts conducted behind doors where others can't witness it. Then you are left alone with all threats of possibly losing your job. You get demoted and in the process discriminated by enduring harrassment and derogatory comments to anything and everything that defines you as a person: your culture, your ethnicity, your age, your gender, anything the Bully can get away with...or thinks can get away with. Then there is the coward Justice System. We live in a world where noone wants to take responsibilities even it its a judgment call where a Judge could rightfully render on your favor supported by the law. The Judge does not want to deal with the consequences of his/ her decisions and orders. So it dismisses your case on vague, disputalbe grounds. Denies you the Jury Trial that you have so persistently pursued for years. The Legal System is a lie. It is meant to give Defendants the chance and time they need to figure out the way to get rid of you even if it takes months or years. But will get rid of you. As a victim of discrimination and denouncing it, you are an undesirable employee, someone who is targetted to get rid of. It is painful, but also true. In 2011 still the destruction of racism and discrimination exists tampant.

Women are worse than men when it comes to threatening nd bullyin.

It's sad when they want to see you homeless. From the workplace to your lively Hood involving Mason n Delta organization stopping u from survival n life. These people have tapped my conversations following me nd domain ...help please