Comments on: Workplace Bullies

By: Irene

Irene — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 16:39:00 +0000

Extensive experience with this. Usually the person being bullied has skills that the bully lacks. The better you are at a job, the more some will find you threatening. And yes, you absolutely MUST confront these people or they will never stop.

By: DementedM

DementedM — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:51:00 +0000

Again, old post, but I did want to share.

I have worked with bullies and I stand up to them even as a low level nobody stupidvisor. Hey, I don't come to work to be abused by anybody. I don't care if you're the Grand High Poobah or a janitor, you will treat me and mine with respect.

What's interesting to me, is that once I do it, other people will and I've actually been able to kickstart positive change in the culture.

The problem is, my brazen anti-bully behavior has given me a rep. On one hand, people respect me, on the other, well, some people are intimidated by assertive women. So it's a double-edged sword.

M

By: MikeT

MikeT — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:07:00 +0000

Not necessarily. I know of a case where a company lost a $300M contract because they lost the one engineer who could coordinate the parallel processing work, and the manager who drove him out of the company was not even touched! She even had a history of dismantling award-winning teams because she didn't like anyone on them, and she got away with that too. Why? She was an outspoken, bitter, in-your-face lesbian.

Take away the ability to sue employers for the actions of their employees, and I think you'd see a lot more spine from management. People like her would be considered just threats to the bottom line, not threats to the company from the legal angle.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:58:00 +0000

Of course, they’re aware. It’s just like my current situation with the state. If someone cozies up to the bosses, all their mistakes and outrageous behavior can be ignored. I work also for a large profit making organization. I find that when profit is involeved, actual performance tends to be measured, rather than behavior that pleases the boss. In any non-profit, reward is given to who best satisfies the supervisors ego, not who performs best. Because the bosses are selected by the same criteria. There is no measure of performance, such as who is selling or producing the most.

By: FHL

FHL — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:39:00 +0000

I work with (for) a bully myself. I happen to know that a couple of my co-workers have told the executives over his head of his tactics, and been told that they fully support him. These co-workers have since moved on to greener and less meaner pastures.

I can't imagine that I'll last much longer myself. I can't think of a better description than "hostile work environment", although it has nothing to do with sexual harrassment. (Just harrassment.)

I've thought about trying to call him on his belittling ways, but I'm extremely non-confrontational. So, I'm pretty sure it would go poorly. Well, I have a pretty good opportunity for it here shortly, so I'll let you know how it goes. =P

By: Wayne Turmel

Wayne Turmel — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:22:00 +0000

Evil HR Lady, don’t yell at me or nothing, but bully bosses is one of the favorite topics on the Cranky Middle Manager show.

Here are two episodes you should listen to. One is with Dr Gary Namie
http://cmm.thepodcastnetwork.com/2005/11/19/the-cranky-middle-manager-23-beating-bullies-at-work/

and a bit of a rebuttal, or at least a different approach with Robert Mueller
http://cmm.thepodcastnetwork.com/2006/08/09/the-cranky-middle-manager-58-more-about-bullying-bosses-robert-mueller/

Enjoy