Hostile Work Environment -- 10 Things Bully Bosses do to Cause Lawsuits (Part I)
82Introduction: Learn What Bully Bosses Are Told by Attorneys
On the website I promised that since I’m a defense lawyer by day, I would bring you the latest legal information “from behind the lines.” This topic is one of the seminars top employment lawyers provide for their biggest corporate clients. You, as an employee, can now learn what it is that the most expensive lawyers say to managers about what those managers should and should not do, in order to avoid getting sued.
Each of the following 10 points starts as a nugget of advice for a manager or a boss about what they should do to avoid being sued by employees. So for each point, not only can you see what your boss should be doing, but you can flip it around in your head and see how you can use the advice to your own advantage.
This Hub is Part 1, containing mistakes 1 through 5. Part II of the Hub contains mistakes 6-10 (which are some of the juiciest). So without further ado, here are “The 10 Biggest Mistakes Bully Bosses Make that Cause Companies to Get Sued”:
1. Sloppy Documentation
Most discrimination cases really are not won with some kind of smoking gun evidence that proves the entire case. A single e-mail , or an audio recording of manager yelling and swearing at an employee rarely carry the day for employees who file suit against their boss. Usually, discrimination cases are proven with circumstantial evidence. Although you may have heard someone on television dismissively say “That’s circumstantial evidence,” circumstantial evidence is still evidence. And it can be very powerful evidence. You can use it in court and you can win a case using only circumstantial evidence.
There's an old lawyers' example of supposing that you are walking through the woods and find a turtle on top of a tall stump. You don't have any direct evidence that somebody put the turtle on the stump, but you have pretty persuasive circumstantial evidence for it. All of this is to emphasize the importance of documenting the little things as they happen, because all the little things can be powerful circumstantial evidence of something much larger – like a company-wide decision to get rid of older employees.
One very successful employer-side attorney warned a group of manager that when employees sue employers, they often use documents, particularly e-mail, to show the jury that the manager was acting toward the employee with discriminatory intent. So, the attorney advised, “Always speak and write as if your comments will be held up to a jury some day.” This is something that I tell employers and managers all the time as part of my “day job” as employer-side attorney. “If you’re going to write something to an employee, imagine that it’s blown up to poster size, and then set on an easel in front of a jury.
So likewise, as an employee trying to protect yourself from a bully boss, you should also imagine what your written words will look like to a jury when when you are responding to your boss's e-mails. Make sure you use a calm, professional sounding tone. Imagine a jury reading your words and then deciding who is the good guy in this situation: is it you, or, is it the manager? Way too often people spout off and lose their temper in e-mails. It will only come back and bite them in the courtroom.
2. Not Following the Company's Own Policies and Procedures
Rules aren’t used only to hold you, the employee, accountable. You can often spin the company's own rules around and use those rules to hold your manager accountable. Also, employee manuals frequently promise more than what the law requires. As a result, you can hold your manager to the personnel policies your company has issued, even if your manager isn't aware of those polices. Courts expect managers to know what your organization’s policies and procedures are. If a manager tells you that the policy is “A” and it's actually “B”, then it will look like your manager is making up rules in order to get you in trouble.
Let's say, for instance, that your manager says you must call in by 7:00 am if you’re going to be late for work. But the policy actually states that employees must call in 30 minutes before their shift starts. If your shift starts at 8:00 am, then a jury is going to view your manager as being purposefully deceitful, not just forgetful. It can make your manager look like he’s out to get you, which he or she probably was. Your manager should review a policy, double check that he or she has it right, and check with HR before taking disciplinary action against you.
If you know, then, that your manager has taken disciplinary action against you that contradicts company policy, then make sure that you careully document what happened and get a copy of the rule your manager did not follow. You will have a nice piece of evidence.
3. Inflated Employee Appraisals
This happens all the time. A manager spends years avoiding a confrontation with an employee the manager believes is under-performing. Rather go through the uncomfortable situation of giving a long term co-worker a bad appraisal, the manager just gives the employee “4's” on a one to five scale -- with five being excellent.
The manager might give a few 5's, and even a few 3's, but that is as critical as the manager will be. Now let's say your manager has given you some “3's”. On a 1 to 5 scale, threes are “satisfactory.” When you’re in front of a jury, what does satisfactory mean? It means satisfactory. It means average or meets minimum acceptable levels. It doesn’t mean “needs improvement or will be fired.” On a 1 to 5 scale getting a 3 overall means you’re doing a good enough job.
If your manager consistently gave you “3's”, or satisfactory, and then claimed that you were terminated for poor performance or that you were in trouble for poor performance, then your manager was contradicting himself or herself. This will undermine your manager’s credibility. In front of a jury in court your own attorney can say, “Look, here are years and years of positive appraisals that this manager gave my client” [you]. “And sitting here today is the same manager saying that my client has a history of poor performance.” Your attorney probably won't bother drawing the conclusion for the jury, but allow them to draw if for themselves: the manager is now lying to try to justify getting rid of the employee.
If your personnel file is less than all “Excellent” status, don't worry. But do work hard to keep your overall review score at least at a level of “3” or Satisfactory or Average or whatever is the middle of the road score at your organization. In truth, this should be fairly easy to do with most (but not all) managers. Do it, and you will have another powerful piece of evidence that the “real reason” you are being disciplined or threatened with termination is NOT your job performance.
4. The “Higher Up” Managers Shrug-off Employee Complaints
If there’s anything that I hear over and over again it’s that an employee complained about a bully boss to a higher level manager, and the higher level manager just shrugs it off, taking no action whatsoever. Defense-side lawyers are trying hard to train managers not to do this, but they do it anyway.
So what does this mean for you as an employee? You should complain to your manager, your HR person, or your boss’ boss. However, expect them not to do much, if anything, about your problem. You should carefully document that you did make these complaints. Send the boss's boss an e-mail confirming that you had a conversation with them. Briefly summarize the key points and blind copy yourself to a personal e-mail address outside the company before you hit SEND.
This way you will have a copy of the e-mail that shows it was sent to your manager's boss with the date and the time. It will then be the company's burden to show (in court or in front of the EEOC) that it responded to you. Will they have? Probably not. Often a boss responds with comments like “I’m not a babysitter” or “boys will be boys” or “I want everyone here to act like adults.” They think that such a cursory response is enough, but it’s not. Their lack of responsiveness to good faith employee concerns is a big cause of employee lawsuits, and a big reason why employees win those suits later on down the road.
5. Managers Who Change Their Story
Another way that bully bosses cause and lose lawsuits is by changing their story. In an organization, sometimes the story of why an employee was terminated changes multiple times. When this happens, the company's credibility is shot.
At first your boss will claim that you are having performance problems, and that you face discipline or even termination because of these supposed problems. When, however, you address those performance problems your boss will change course, and say, “Oh well, there are the attendance problems you have been having lately.” Then you address those supposed problems. Then your boss (now probably with H.R. Involved) will say, “Well, we’re laying you off because your position is being eliminated.” Does it look like “layoff” is the real reason you've lost your job, after management proffered all these different reasons, and keeps changing its justifications?
No, it looks like the real reason was some discriminatory motivation, and your boss was determined to get rid of you no matter how thoroughly you shot down each performance issue your boss raised. That’s why your bully boss changed his or her story – because he or she was determined to get rid of you no matter what.
So although this can be horribly frustrating to you when it’s going on, take heart in knowing that courts frown upon companies that flip-flop on why an employee was let go. Defense lawyers and companies both know that story-swapping by bullying bosses just causes the company to lose lawsuits. That's why defense lawyers are out in the business world training bosses NOT to change their story around once they start disciplining an employee with an eye on termination.
If this happens to you, there's no denying that the short term battles with your boss will be agonizing and frustrating. You'll probably feel like you are caught in a cycle where you lose no matter what you do. But you will know that the bully boss is unintentionally giving you the upper hand in the long term. You are the one who is going to win the war.
Now be sure to click through to Part II of this Hub, where you can find Bully Boss Mistakes 6-10.
You Won't Believe Mistakes 6-10 in Part II!
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emohealer -- Thanks for the kind words about my writing. I'm just adding the photos to Part II. It will be live in just a minute. -Curt
Great Information - positive that I'll come out a winner based on these points - cannot wait to read the next 5!
My boss uses the term SHADY for a female co-worker , Im insulted and annoyed for her , every time they and call her that offensive , swear word behind her back .
Robert, I suggest you keep a written list of the days and times the boss says this, and write down who else heard it. When you have six or more entries on your list, send a copy to H.R. If they take no action, let your female co-worker in on what is happening. Then the two of you together can file a complaint with the EEOC or your state's dept of labor.
I'm currently having some problems with an employee and your hub is a God-send for an employer like me who wants to make sure that she gets punished for her sins =). And she really committed these sins, I'm not being discriminatory (and I don't want this to be the cause for her being released). I'll read the next one right away. Thanks for this hub.
I am being harrassed at work and was online looking for help when I found your website. Your site has been so informative and helpful, I just want to say thank you. I Know it was a blessing to find this sight. Now with God's strength and this information I am winning the battle at work against harrassment. I wish I had known this information years ago, I have had bully bosses that have pushed me out of good jobs and benefits and because I did'nt know my rights I let them, but no more! Thank you again.
I have worked for a major bank for the last 7&1/2 years. Over the years, I have been subjected to harsher treatment then my peers and have been passed over for promotion despite exemplary performance. After I was there for about 3 years, I was pulled of to the side after applying for a promotion. I was told that I would not be allowed a interview because I would never promote as long as I was there because I was too young and emotional to ever be respected by my peers. I was 25 at the time. You should know that I have a type of muscular dystrophy and I have four children each with there own disabilities, something my work place is very aware of. Management has changed several times but the types of behaviors have not. I am afraid to address any of these behaviors or Evan to call it discrimination because I fear since the hands have changed so many times that this is a matter farther up the ladder then I can fight. Especially since my husband works there the retaliation could affect him and not me, and I fear it would be difficult to prove that it was at all related. Recently the new boss I have has defiantly made things worse and I am not certain that I can hang on much longer. I wake up having anxiety attacks at the very idea of seeing my manager I am afraid to turn in fmla paper work because anyone who has done so has been summarily dismissed shortly there after. Pretty much as soon as they can find an excuse. With my children and my medical expenses I cant, afford to be out of work right now help please. I know this is illegal. And because of the department i work in I am pretty sure they know its illegal.You see i work in the litigation department. If they are so willing to disregard the law what protection do I have ? it must seem funny for me to come hear but i am a very small fish in a very big pond.
any helpful suggestions would be welcome
Polly, It sounds like you are truly in an awful situation, and deserve so much better. My hat is off to you, working while you have MS and taking care of kids that have disabilities as well. There's no magic wand to make your boss stop without you taking any action to stop it. But you know that. At some point, you have to decide that "having anxiety attacks at the very idea of seeing my manager" is worse than the process of filing FMLA and filing an EEOC discrimination complaint would be.
You are obviously a strong person. Talk over the next step with your husband, educate your self on using FMLA and filing successful EEOC claims, and then take action.
A friend of mine is currently in an unusual situation. He has been working for the employer for 6 months. They have tried multiple things to overwhelm him including harrassment, giving more work, providing inacurate and less information than to other employees, minimizing his work and antaganizing him to explode or quit. In other words because of the stress, he would says or do the wrong thing. The department and management has developed a patten of this type of behavior with other employees in the past. What is the best course of action. It is difficult to find another job. My friend is now sick.
I worked for a company for 18 months. During the first year everything was great; I was being given extra duties and responsibilities to put me in line for next promotion always received top reviews. Then at the end of the year there was a change of management and problems started to occur myself and a couple of other employees went to DM to voice concerns. DM did go to our manager. However afterward manager started to be vindictive. He would ask the whole team except us to work extra hours. He would make rude comments to us in front of other employees. He cut back hours when he thought he could make excuses for it. At this time I found out we were to open a new store in the area and I requested a transfere to go through as soon as it opened. When my promotion was about to go through manager told me straight out that I wasn't his choice that others were pushing me through and that he didn't trust me. I repeatedly asked to make sure promotion was to be for new store before I accepted it. I also asked for a specific person to replace me in my department when I was promoted which he refused. Instead with no notice to me he pulled me from my station I wasn't even given time to remove my personal belongings and he put in a co-worker that had been repeatedly reported by myself and others for policy violations and should have been fired a long time ago but she hangs around with management 24/7 literally they go to her house. She was very disrespectful towards me and when I complained it was ignored. When I was finally able to get my personal belongings out she reported me for stealing and i was pulled in the office but I had all the receipts taped to most the items and others were quite obviously not company property. But still I started getting my bags searched when I would leave. Manager would ask other employees if I was bad mouthing him. Manager then announced to all employees that I was going to be promoted over them when I had made it clear that I wanted to transfer. A friend of the aforementioned lady who was given my station then came over to me a quite rudely said you know you can't fire someone just because you don't like them, she then proceed to speak Spanish to another woman who was her friend, and that woman ran over to say something to the woman who was given my station; next thing I know I was pulled into the office because my manger said a few people went to him saying that i said I wanted to fire the woman in my station. I denied saying it but he was just looking for an excuse at that point and this gave him one so he blocked my promotion, sent me home on a disciplinary and told me if I didn't like it not to come back I didn't. But I did write him a 3 page letter explaining the situation and lining out some of his conduct which he never responded to. Two weeks later I found out that he gave my promotion to the woman he gave my station to. I then called the DM who told me I could return to work when the new store opens but since I was listed as a walk out I would have to start all over with benefits and I wouldn't be going back with the promotion in place; nor could I collect unemployment because I 'quit'.
Wow some comments here are pretty serious...
Anyway, my stepfather is planning to sue his boss and is going to use the recorded "yelling and swearing" as evidence. I just don't think that that's against the law for some reason. His boss is the owner of his company, which is technically a corporation, but has no board of directors.
It's a trucking company. The boss, however, used to do (and probably still does) some illegal things like making his workers work more. For example, the workers must rest for two days after they drop off the load from chicago to california (by law) but the boss used to somehow fake the documents and mark the time of the drop off with a 2-day old date, so that his employees could start driving back right away.
Thanks - Been through Micro Management of the worst kind and appreciate knowing what I should/could have done.
My ex boss has had his books looked at and there was some miss management of funds now he is telling everyone that i did it even though i did not have access to any bank accounts or trust accounts only he did, Can i sue him and prove myself right.
I have worked as an investigator in a social service agency for many years. You are correct in stating that many discrimination claims are null and void because the complainant in the case do not provide accurate documentation. In order for discrimination cases to be valid, the complainant must document his/her case thoroughly and provide veriable witnesses. Furthermore, the complainant must be calm and collected during interviews. Many a complainant crucify himself/herself by admitting evidence to the contrary. For example, during an investigation, the respondent in the case stating that a complainant called him a pejorative name. I asked the complainant if this was true, the complainant answered so what. This case was considered void. Good article.
im a personal carer and have been bullyed for over a year now. i was new and thought that it would stop but it hasnt.I'm about 23 and am having difficultys with an older lady who has worked at this facillity for a very long time.She says hello to the people around me by name and ignores me she picks at me every time shes on the same shift as me.She speaks to me rudley and abruptly ordering me about,She is not of a highr auothority either or in charge of me.she sometime witholds infomation from me and looks for my mistakes and lets me know about it in a nasty way.she hate me doing certin job and gives me a hard time when i get them. when im on the floor with her she makes me do alot of the heavier work while she dose bits and piecs. i have spoken to my superviser and the situation is now wores.As now the lady picks at me and claims im bulling her in the exact same way she is bullying me.so now my supervise is sending out a memo to both of us to work more proffesionally with each otheir.I can asure you what she has told my superviser is untrue and has really fustrated me as this is just another one of her bullying tactics. i feel i need to leave my job but then she will target someone eles.Some people have left due to her behaviour towards them but they never spoke up the just left.I also have witnesses.
I have been dealing with a bully co worker for the past 3 years. Here in the 6 months or so it has gotten extremely bad to the point that this individual started to bring his gun to work.I reported it to my boss but nothing was done.So I went to his boss and still nothing was done.Did I mention that I work for a public school so not only I was in danger but so are students and staff.Almost 3 months went by then the situation was reported to head Dean and the police. The individual was suspended with pay for two weeks then transfers. I left work two hours early and my pay was doct. I was then told not to never speak to anyone about this to take this to the grave keep it secret. There is so much more to this story just trying to keep it short. I was wondering if I could sue or what could do. Because this has changed my life it has effected me in a big way. I wonder if I need to relocate for the safety of my family. Or stay at my job. Does any one know what I should do. HELP
Thanks Undercover, you are God send. I work for a coward boss who hides behind his desk and attempts to create a hostile environment for me by abusing policy and rewarding negative behavior against me through my co-workers as well as 3rd parties. Theses snakes are the vilest ever and it is amazing that the US economy is not non-existent due to these power mongers.
Hello! I love this site... recently I have been bullied by the office manager and the owner.. I have not been notified by the owner but he/she suposedly confronts the Office manager and has her/him repremend me for doing nothing wrong ... One thing that I was repremened for was not holding an employee's personal belongings for ransom until he or she returned some company belongings. Correct me if I am wrong but is that not a law that personal belongings cannot be held for ransom???? One other thing that I supposedly did wrong that he or she had the office manager repremend me for was that the owner felt that I was not looking out for his or her best intrest by reseraching the labor laws of holding personal belongings... Little does he or she know that I was looking out for his or her best interest but it appears it ticked him or her off and now I am feared that I might be headed out the door....Why? Because the office manager suggested that I should not talk to him or her about it until they cool off. Now do you see my awkard position I am in??? HELP!!!!!
have spoken with so many regarding my situation with King County as my employer and no one seems to understand that it is not alright to be verbally abused in the workplace by a bully boss. I have been verbally abused, lied to, set up for failure. I have endured this type of treatment for over seven years. I have spoken with my boss, I have been to his boss, I have been to my union, I have been to HR, ombudsman and I have been to eeoc. I tried to go to dispute resolution with him and boy was this a mistake. Since I have tried this he has retaliated against me in several ways. Poor evaluations, when I met for evaluation the first thing he said was I cannot believe you are taking me to dispute resolution. From that point forward he has done nothing but harass me. No lawyer wants to speak with me regarding these issues I have tried on several occasions to talk with lawyers. My boss is African American I am white. I am over 50 been employed with King County for almost 17 years with no college degree. This man has bullied his staff and me for several years. I have been told that King County is aware of this man’s behavior but they consistently overlook the things staff has been saying for several years. Does an employee have to endure such behavior due that the county is unwilling to deal with it because he has stated that he will sue if the county takes action against him? I am at a loss of words to explain how this has affected my work abilities. Does a white male over 50 have any rights whatsoever? What does it take for someone to get the help they need in these matters? I was told that there is nothing I can do to have the abuse stopped. Are there not laws that protect county workers from bosses who perceive themselves as untouchables due to their race? They use this to get away with what they are doing knowing that the county does not want a lawsuit and because of that the county allows this type of behavior.
Please help if you cannot please advise me on what I can do or is this just the same old thing I have been hearing for years. There is nothing you can do but to accept the behavior and deal with it.
Um folks, bully or not, all your manager has to say is that the company has the right to choose the talent they think is the best for the company. They can twist and make things look any way they like. Attorneys want you to think you have a chance in court. You don't. This is an employer's market, not your dad's place of employment where he worked from teen to 60's and received appropriate retirement benefits for giving his life to his work.
I hope to be around to see the greed kill off these companies and continue to painfully punish anyone connected with the pile of criminal crap that has become corporate America. I hope they all go the way of the Lays, Scrushys, Kozlowskis, Ebbers, etc. who have been outted and jailed.
Lay was lucky to die. Maybe.
my boss has bipolar (according to me) one day she will be so nice to my face and talk behind my back about my wrongdoings at work. my last evaluation came out perfect and i had absolutely no complaints. i show to work on time i do my job every day. and other times she will nit pick me about ANYTHING that she can find. i work in a kitchen and we have a bottle of lotion...it had antibacterial something in it. i WATCHED someone use it right before me and she told me i couldn't use it because it was unsanitary. that is just a minor example. another is, my coworker is a male, and he is on probation for violence charges. a friend and i were talking about our weekend we had and my boss heard and confronted me with, ''you know your personal life reflects on ur job''. my coworker didnt even get suspended and she had to comment on me enjoying a friday night out?
I am working for an escalating bully boss. It is really getting to me. I need help to know what my next steps / options & rights are. I fell lost- and the toll of my bully bosses tirades and threats have really kicked in. I am not who I was before. Sggestions very very appreciated. Won't HR just back the bully boss * help crush me? My personal email is dds35day@netscape.net
Last week she went on at length about being unhappy with my performance- examples included very trivial or fantasy problems- or things she won't calm down long enough to hear an explanation & let me fix. SO. I am getting extremely stressed. Since last week when she informed me she will not sign my security investigation form "because she does not know if she can say I am honest" I have really had trouble eating. I emailed HR over the weekend. This lady has really terrorized me- I am 58 and at my age- alone- being unemployed can be deadly in more ways than one. I am extemely afraid & really do not know how to proceed.
I heard nothing from HR till afternoon and they informed me they can meet at 4 PM Thursday (this is Monday)- with one of my bosses. I got terrified I would be fired on the spot- despite a 100% perfect review in December, etc.
I took a chance and went above her head to a higher up. I was a wreck with anxiety and fear and told him everything including her yelling. Telling me she goes from 0 to 100 in anger- but I have to take it because she is the executive (this was last week.) Also, she claimed I "nearly blew" a conf call with the White House because she was 1/2 hour EARLY due to the person on the other end last minute moving the time back. AND that person referred to me in her emails to my boss as "wonderful DD". I told him all this. But I am still lost and terrified. I feel like I've literally been thrown into the gladiators ring- for no apparent reason except this lady appears to want to trade me in- It is troublesome to her when I am unfocused and upset "over minor things. She actually told me that was one of my issues. Of course being screamed at, accused, threatened, etc. for months could make me un-calm. For that I was being threatened. Of note- I may be un-calm (I have cried at the worst of it and left my desk). But she is the one storming around and yelling at me.
My boss intimadates me and if you complain they put you through all sorts of tests to decide of you are ok to work. Then if you complain to him he gets worse..
After 7-1/2 years of great performance reviews with potential promotions on the horizon, being sent across the nation to start-up an associated company (Tennessee). When and after some of the original supervisors and management left (for unknown reasons) or retired. All of a sudden things changed, going down hill at break neck speeds. When the following happened for unknown reasons.
Not sure if Nevada employees have same rights as other states but the Starbucks roasting plant has bullied and been hostile with threats to my wife in every way possible. Before her cornea replacement surgery, she tripped and fell, hurting her wrist due to her not having good vision (depth of field) from a failing cornea. At one point her supervisor (Carrie) had mentioned to her that she (Carrie) wasn’t sure at her (Wife) age that she could handle the job. Isn’t this a form of age discrimination?
One of her supervisors looked at her wrist and said "it's sprained go back to work. She did and came home in extreme pain. But for fear of retaliation didn't see a doctor as her boss told her not to. Next day at work with very swollen wrist another boss took her to doctor telling (threatening) her not to ask for pain meds as then the incident would be a reportable accident and would ruin their safety record. She did not mention it to doctor as instructed by supervisor who insisted on sitting in on examination of wrist in doctors exam room (x-ray discovered her wrist was fractured). After threats from her work about her going to doctor she finally had her vision checked concerning her not being able to see clearly. Was told she had a virus in eye and to see a specialist. Specialist referred her to a cornea specialist. Cornea Specialist/Surgeon had determined that if she wanted to see again that the cornea had to be replaced ie. cornea transplant. She would have to be off work until transplant had for the most part healed. She applied for FMLA leave and was approved for 12 weeks, then had to apply for short term disability turning into long term disability. She was off work for just under 1 year. Upon returning to work was told that due to no specialist (operator, previously held) positions open they could only offer her a picker (laborer) position. That her wages would reflect by being dropped to the appropriate wages. She readily accepted as in order to survive in this down economy and with medical bills any work would suffice at this point. Letters were given out to all employees shortly after stating wages/shift differential and raises. She questioned her supervisor as the letter stated that she was making the wages she made prior to her sick leave. She was told that was the wages she was making, no need to question it. When a specialist position became open, she was told to apply for it as that was the only way to recover her original position. She applied, was granted an interview and came away very happy as the interview went very well with her lengthy experience as an operator and overall safety record. After patiently awaiting outcome was told that because of a PIP (personal improvement plan) over a year ago that she didn’t get the job. She was hurt by the outcome and couldn’t understand the reasoning as a PIP is only affective for at the longest, 90 days. She accepted the outcome by picking herself up and going forward realizing after being told that within a few months she would be able to reapply for a specialist position as the PIP would go away in a few months???, that her attitude was great and had a good chance to recoup her original position. 3 days later she was called into the office only to be told that her wages were being cut!!
At this point the supervisor and management collusion of bullying and abuses had gone far enough. How long does an employee have to deal with this type of perpetual slap in the face?? This is, in my eyes a hostile work environment and should be addressed. Please reply me with your advice or a direction to take.
Thank you,
I was told by my co workers that my boss was talking about how over weight my daughters are. What should i do. I've been at this job for 16 months and this woman does not know me except for i work for her! Idk what to do this is really bothering me because she be so two faced and ask me about them and smile to my face. I have been told stories horrible stories about her! What should i do!? I wish i could sue the heck out of them!
I was told by my co workers that my boss was talking about how over weight my daughters are. What should i do. I've been at this job for 16 months and this woman does not know me except for i work for her! Idk what to do this is really bothering me because she be so two faced and ask me about them and smile to my face. I have been told stories horrible stories about her! What should i do!? I wish i could sue the heck out of them!
I have a boss/company owner who uses very foul language and especially when he's on the phone. He doesn't care his office door is open or patients passing by . It is very disturbing hearing it, well it wasn't as bad until one day we heard him on a personal call with a woman I assume because he said "why would I help you if you aren't giving me %#^#y " was I disgusted!! What can you do in these situations if there's no one above him? He also makes comments to some girls here that are very vulgar and unprofessional .
Hi I have recently been if work for 2weeks with a bad back I am a career on returning to work my boss has taken my hours of me and is only giving me about 12 hours work can she do this
I have been reading these posted and they have made me feel so much better!!!
I was wrongfully dismissed from my job last week. I worked very hard for my employer for 12 years, I was a one man show and very deticated worker. I am in sales and it is a very unique set up where in most companies there may have been 3 to 4 people doing my job. When I was first employed there was no department to say I built it.
During my employment two men that did not work under me but under my Director where allowed to do whatever they wanted, and at times it made my job and several other co-workers jobs hard to do because of the situation he put us in. As I started to document stuff I thought no one should be able to run a company like this and I would go to my boss with compliants and he would make me the problem.
It took him 8 years to fire a person whom ws not working and stealing from our place of employemnt as well as drinking on the job. The man was allowed to be drunk, steal the and equipemnt among other things.
The other man it 11 years to fire and he would sleep in area's of our building and when I would go to my boss because the people he had me managing at his request where coming to me because of this, he would say:
It would help me if you would do this or that, or he would say how do I know that is true or I have to catch him. So.... next time you see it come find me our teh next person in charge.
It was a horrible, hostile and disresepctful place to go and work everyday when you are so overwhelmed. This man finally fired a few months back but this went on for years, after 100's of emails and people going to my boss. The first week of this year I had my goal setting and it was the same generic your doing great try to handle cleints a little slower which is hard to do when you have built a business and you have no support. Then I go on vaction and he walks in my office on the day I return and hands me a letter saying I was not working at the level for the poosition my employer.
When in fact I was working 24/7 at night on the weekends jsut trying to keep up with no assitant and checking my clienst on my vacation to make sure no one was missed.
So I guess you have to be drunk and sleeping and not be at the 78% of my budget and make your budget every year. Then I am made aware that our receptionist was put in my job for now. Does any of this sound like it is discrimination or hostile or just plan unbelievable??
I work for the state of maryland, and one of my supervisor remind me as much as he can that he will fire me, and other employees, I let upper management aware of this matter and nothing has been done. What can I do, to correct this problem. And can this man be removed form the job site, for creating an hostile environment?
does anyone know if I can file a complaint or sue a company for the follwing?(1st, it may sound simple, but in my 30 years of being employed, I've never wirtnessed this) My manager didn't like something I said in the office and belittled me in front of my co-workers and said (along the lines of) "you can take a walk"(meaning quit). Other emplotyess were laughing at seeing me being embarrassed. Thanks!!
In my work place i left shift at 10 pm when it was the end of my shift and now my boss have got people to lie about what happend and i still face getting the sack a memmber of staff who was coming in at 10 ha phoned in sick but the office didnt bother to get any one in is this my fault do i deserved to be sacked i have writtting statements off people who were asked to lie
Do i have a case in court for this does any one no
A woman where I work was just fired for carrying a gun in the work place. Which they should fire her. But they told people not to talk a out it or they will be fired. Can they do that?
I pointed out a big mistake my boss made, resarched it and told him that it was an error, he countered with his own research, though he had a solution but it failed. So, he tells me to proceed with the process even though there is a flaw. That was about two weeks ago. One week ago I get my job performance and it is horrible. I cried in the bathroom. This piece of dung is trying to punish me because I found a big mistake he made. He is a lawyer and I am a paralegal. I know my rights and I am pissed. Just asked to be transferred out of departmemt and did write a strong yet professional and respectful response. Next step perhaps EEOC complaint and possible lawsuit. It may go no where, but I want him to be so afraid he will never mess up another persons evaluation because of his failure or his attempt to punish me.
I worked for a company for 9 1/2 months. My supervisor harassed me daily. I had no clue when I took the job that you could not use the rest room when needed. I only have one kidney so I was wrote up for taking 2 extra less then 10 min breaks to run to the rest room. So I got a detailed note from my Dr explaining that it was a health risk for me to continue holding it for long periods of time. I took it to Human Resource. Nothing was said until I switched bosses then the new boss kept writing me up and telling me I had to sign it for schedule adherence, I refused to sign. Then she starts dogging me out to the other supervisors, so I go to human resource who states well maybe this job is not for you. I said no I am good at my job but she as a supervisor should not be allowed to yell at me on the floor were everyone can here and continue to write me up. I stated I have had 3 bladder infections in 3 months due to trying to do what she ask and I can't continue or its going to ruin the only one I have. So the head supervisor pulled 6 of us into her office stating she was going to have to write us up and said I will deal with Tammie first and she did and I refused to sign it. She then stated she ran out of time and the other 5 would be talked to tomorrow well that day came and went and not one of them was ever wrote up. Actually one of them was promoted. My stats were great I surpassed our goals every month. Then my supervisor called me to the side and told me look I don't want you here I have tried to get you fired and so far it hasn't worked she stated that she had even went to the rest room and screamed over me. I said really why in the world would you do that? She stated you lack self confidence and I said well its not like you instill any. Then that evening we all heard her sharing her rampage about me with other supervisors. Then she called me off the phone again and said she was going to have to write me up for schedule adherence and I said look I took a note to human resource and she said I checked its not there. So I said I am not signing it period. Since it disappeared I will tomorrow bring in a copy. I didn't get the chance they called me to the back were others could see and hear and told me I was being fired because Directv said I made a mistake and there was nothing they could do. They proceed to walk me out then in front of everyone out front stand at the doors yelling get off the property, I was waiting on my husband to pick me up. I explained this to them and they kept yelling till I finally relented and walked all the way out to the street to the bus stop. It is a dangerous area and it was dusk and I am 50 yrs old and several people stopped including two buses to see if they could give me a ride. I was mortified. The next day I called Direct Tv and ask them about this and they said that would have not gotten me fired at all. That mistake was because another supervisor told me to transfer the call which I did and noted the account as well, the head supervisor told me they would speak with him but that I was still fired. Younger male employees who made mistakes got wrote up but kept their jobs. Then later they were promoted. I think all this stemmed from my lack of one kidney. Is this allowed just because we are a right to work state? I thought they could fire you for whatever reason but not bully you. They harassed me so badly my Dr finally put me on anxiety medication. One supervisor told me to learn to bend more. One told me to ignore them they were like monkeys in the trees just running their mouth. For the last 3 months of working there,I felt like I was having a nervous break down. I was neglecting my house my family but I had to have my job I was the only one working at that time.
I have worked for a food processing company for 1 1/2 years. In this time I have been floored by the things that go on there. A hostile environment to say the least. The owner gets mad and throws things ..curses on a daily basis. Employees send emails and copy everyone in the office while the curse each other out in email. It goes on daily. The co-owner smokes a cigar in the offices and break room and meeting areas. All of wich are illegal in the state of CA. I could go on and on.....the stress level is beyond belief and today I couldnt take it any more. When I got to the office the owner was telling a co working to go "F" himself and then turned to me and started in.....today I quit after listening to him for about 15 min. I got up and took my things and left. Do i have the right to file a claim? Can i get unemployment?
I reallly ned a web sight to contact the hud people here my work sight has become so unbairable please heil 270-307-5529 darlynejones1963@hotmail.com
My name is Sonia and I am from United States. I have worked for Frank for over 10 years without promotion,leave or any good benefits. He treats me like hell and promises to make my life a more living hell in Boston if I ever got out of his Advertising agency,making sure I do not work for any other firm in Boston for the rest of my life. I am a single,widowed mother of two kids and I can't afford to lose my job. i was so down cast and i felt the world has come to an end for me being stuck in this old,unhappy and unfulfilled job but my friend told me about a spell caster that helped her sister out in getting her relationship back,a good job and favor in any of her endeavor but at first i was scared but i have to give this man a trial because I needed a promotion badly and one was coming up at the moment. I ordered a spell from this great spell caster that made me a happy woman. I became Frank's favorite just three days after he cast my spell. I have been promoted and enjoying every part of my job for six months now. I want to testify to the good works of the Prophet of Goddess and I will forever be grateful to his good works because he restored my lost happiness in my job and i am happy today because of his good work. Contact him in any problem on his website www.prophetofgoddess.com or prophetofgoddess@yahoo.com or spells.prophetofgoddess@gmail.com. He is always there to assist you.
Y'all have been helpful my boss I believe is holding my relationship with my better half against me, they also pry into my personal choices outside of work an hold my life against me..thanx ....
My mom works with someone at Quality Suites in Hickory, North Carolina. And, these people thats from India took over not just a little of a month ago. and, they have fired and hired so many new people. but, kept the good people that know what there doing in the housekeeping job. and, they fired everyone that is on salary also. but, thats beside the point. they fired the executive housekeeper and made the assistant executive housekeeper the new one in the place of the fired one. and, the woman has took it to her head and back. because, she sets behind a desk now. she yelled and told of the housekeepers to shut up and, that she didn't know how to make a bed.. The woman went to the new people that took over the hotel. And, She told her that she could talk to her that way! but, I don't think she can. It states in the Company Handbook that they have to be respectful toward the supervisor and the supervisor has to do the same back! Is there anything that this woman can do about this supervisor's actions?!
Thing is that a large number of these employers/owners are manipulative bullying trash!!!!! I've had my own experience .. believe me. Thing is in America there is no justice for it. So when "one" yells or screams or disrespects...bust their damn face when you when you walk out for good. NEEDS TO BE THE RAGE ACROSS AMERICA!!!
Hi My name is trisha I am working in a hostile bullying workplace for several months My story is that I have know where else to go their is no human resources department In my case i am always being call a slut a whore the owner has call me a slut in front of other employee and customers were in the dining room and also heard him the manger is the leader in all this every employee has address me that why i was call out into the parking lot of my employement with several others employees which all team up on me I started crying I was so stree out I wanted to just died i have talk to aattorney stated there nothing I can do i thought there were laws to protects employees. Please help with advice
I found the info you posted very helpful. I have worked for government agency for 22 years. Two years ago I was struck by a government vehicle while I was walking in a parking lot. This resulted in multiple physical injuries and ptsd/depression as I could not get the image of the vehicle almost running over my face out of my mind. Recently I was placed on leave, since then I have heard my that my supervisor has been making fun of my work restrictions and my medical condition. This has brought about even more anguish. I feel so upset about management not taking me seriously, when I complained about this the first time. Now management has assured me that they did investigate and took appropriate action the first time, but then why has it happened again. Why do supervisors think they belittle a persons medical problem? I had never had problems at work until after the vehicle hit me, then all of a sudden it seemed like everyone wanted to judge me and my medical issues and managers would make comments as if they thought that I actually threw myself in front of the vehicle. I find the company's behavior unprofessional. I also feel that the comments to my co workers is only causing me to look like I am a lazy ass. I am not, I worked there for 22 years and the only thing that was my fault the day I got hit, was that I was on time to work. Advise would help. Thank you.
I have a question: in my work we have a case ,my boss and managers , pushing us to promote and sharing flyers on facebook , one of the text message said " mandatory" , it's that legal?
Hello i received a phone call from my regional manager,when i got home from work. she said i am on paid suspension and i am not to set foot at work. I asked her what it was about and she said call so and so in HR dept. She will let you know a letter came in from a customer and we are doing an investigation on you. Is this the correct way to tell me i am suspended from work? By the way i had to wait the next day for an explanation from HR. I recently to put on 90day probation for an inappropriate email to my boss, in response to something i had did. i just completed my 90 day probation with no problem..3 weeks later i get hit with this..so upset!
I work for the man that owns the company. He yells, rants and raves and 'cusses a blue streak.' He's uglier to other staff calling them names and berating them all day long. He tries to be very careful not to let me hear this, but I have, and a very different person out of the office - people thinks he great. But the GDing and Effing at the staff is taking it's toll on them, along with severe micromanaging. He very condescending to everyone, including me. Then, there are times he doesn't care who hears him. It's all very strange, but I feel definitely intentional bullying. Of course, we all feel like we have to put up with it in this day of very few jobs out there.
I have been doing same job for over 4 years and no one critizes my work now got new line manager and now keep gettong pulled into office saying I doing rhis wrong that wrong I could lose my job ovenr all the.mistakes he says I am making what do I do I doing same now as last 4 years no diffeerence
When I told my boss I was 15 weeks pregnant he said that I can't work in the cafe with a pregnant belly. Ever since then he has reduced my hours and shifts and complains on my performance when I'm doing everything I was trained to do and I've asked him what can I do to improve and he says nothing. Calls me stubborn about it. Am I just taking it the wrong way or can I do something about this?
I work with a supervisor who would tell me something, but when it turns out to be trouble, he would lie that he never told me. He gave me so many warnings, then told me one day, the days of me being at the company, my days are numbered. I finally left early one night because he told me I could leave, but when I was fired for it, he said he never told me, now I have to appeal my unemployment benefits. Was his behavior harrassment or just a bully supervisor.
Can I be punished for not following a procedure that I wasn't aware of. A friend of mine has just been given a written warning for not "reviewing" an accident invese tigation. He has never before been asked to conduct a review of any of the countless investigations that he has conducted so I see this as unfair. How can you be punished for not following a procedure that you was unawre of in the first place??
Any help would be appreciated as I am also vulnerable to this type of punishment!!
we have been dealing with this kind of harassment and bullying from our company for the last 3 years, and yet no government agent has helped us, we are formers transit and school bus drivers all terminated within the last 3 years in which the new company took over, they went as far as fabricating an accident which led to my termination, they went as far as getting the police to charge me with 3 seperate charges all of wich didnt even make it to court as it was proved i did not hit this vehihcle(parked vehicle), the amount of drivers they have done this to and still continue with the employed drivers is incredible, so how on earth does a company get away with this.
25 March 2012
I Ray Mawhinney was Fired March 19 2012 at 8:15 am for seeking assistance from my mayor in Barrie Ont. As the company ignored my requests for action and union unable to get anywhere with companies lack of concern. I was forced to continue to work in the toxic environment destroying my life. As a Canadian citizen and tax payer in the city of Barrie I had every right to ask my mayor for help and support when the company First Canada / student and union local 1415 did nothing to stop the abuse / adult bulling I have been subjected to for the last 6 years by BACTS supervisor Laurie Widdess.
In 2007 L. Widdess did her own investigation on herself .In 2009 Alan Smale and Tara Shield questioned Laurie Widdess and dismissed her of duties for abuse of authority toward me. She re -appeared only once Chris Brown was hired as new Transit Manager, weeks later. On her return she abused me even more than ever, only now with Chris Browns support. The permanent damage I have suffered and pain caused to my family. I hold First Canada/student / Barrie Transit /BACTS responsible for allowing this type of behaviour to continue and destroy part of my life I will never get back. As the damage done to me is permanent it is my goal to seek justice and expose the violent behaviour I was subjected too in the hope to save other innocent victims of the same fate I must learn to live with and hopes our children will never have to be subjected too in the work environment ..
Yours Truely
Ray Mawhinney BACTS DRIVER Barrie Ont.
Canadian and proud of it.
What I forgot to mention is prior to starting to work for Barrie Transit / BACTS Dept in 2006 . I was an insurance appraiser / investigator which I would routinely document any events. Having said that , I kept a detailed log of the last 6 years of dates,times and events that my supervisor subjected me too daily.Including copies of daily workloads from the manifest, constant changes to my schedule and routine while on the fly and false accusations made towards me which where proven fabricated. I also have several witnesses including prior office staff who worked directly with my abuser.
anyone who has worked for or is currently working for First Student/ First Group or any other First company and is experiencing bullying and harassment please feel to contact me toot37@sympatico.ca, as we have had so many drivers bullied by this company
Sure am glad that you have this website. It's evident workplace bullying is alive & well. The management/supervisors at the organization I work for are "master manipulators" - lies, false accusations, stealing other workers ideas and projecting it as their own, micromanaging that creates additional work so routine work cannot be done in a timely manner. There is huge turn-arounds-people always leaving because of the abuse they have been subjected to - I have observed managers/supervisors be so abusive employees were brought to tears in front of customers & other co-workers. Top administration has been aware of this for years, as has the HR department - yet nothing is done. Employees are terminated for lesser actions (which are probably lies to begin with). Managers/supervisors ask employees to falsify documents but then don't stand behind their requests. Have seen numerous employees suffer from ill health because of this environment, employees told there are no Federal laws regarding health (another lie because there is FMLA and ADA). This organization does everything it can to ruin good workers. They have their favorites (generally the slackers who sit in the office all day discussing their social lives while the hard-workers do the jobs they are supposed to be doing) - and who gets the recognition - the slackers - they also get kudos for doing the most work. Again, nobody will do anything because most people are fearful of losing their jobs. In the last year, I've heard that some employees (for whatever reason) have been asked to sign documents (in front of company attorney & supervisor) without having the opportunity to review and then told "they are subject to termination" if they do not sign (some of these documents the employee would waive their rights to make any claims whatsoever against the organization). Guess they know they are in the wrong but are trying to intimidate and coerce employees to sign documents not knowing they would never be able to go against the employer. It would be a huge welcome if these administrators, managers and supervisor (including their cronies) be shown the door (and don't let the door hit them in the butt on their way out) for the success of the organization. Their mission is "Management by Fear", intimidation, coercion, fraud, document falsification, lies, minimizing employees who go above & beyond their regular responsibilities. Too much to go on - this is just a short version.
emohealer 2 years ago
Another great hub identifying things we all need to know in todays workplace environment. I will once again be forwarding and sharing.
You share this information in such an easy to read, non judgemental just the facts style, I enjoy reading. Thank You