Readers' Comments
Total Comments: 33
Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Good Morning America Takes On Workplace Bullying
Total Comments: 33
Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
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March 16, 2010
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Above article
OPM
Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:03 AM
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The problem I have with the 54 million figure is the lack of context. How was this number arrived at specifically? How did the respondents to the Zogby survey understand the term "workplace bullying"? To what extent were respondents given some form of defining norms to use in gauging their responses? The phenomenon of bullying, whether in schools, the workplace, etc. is real, but in many respects it, akin to the sexual harrassment phenomenon, is highly subjective in terms of what the term means to individual "victims" of the same. For example, in my four decades plus working career I've had occasion to be chewed out by one or another boss for real or perceived infractions, but don't personally feel that I've ever been "bullied" (even by drill sergeants in the military). Maybe others would have perceived that differently. Again, we need to assure more objective rigor in seeking to come to grips with such an amorphous concept by better defining our terms.
Workplace Bullying
Forest Service
Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:07 AM
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I had to work for several years for a bully. It was purely psychological hell. I had to get psychological help, and joined a support group. I was also able to rally co-workers who were bullied by the same few people. While I left, the others are still there, and I feel for those who couldn't leave the area. I feel like I'll never get my old self back, because as a child I experienced the same kind of psychological trauma, and this just pushed me, emotionally, all the way back to childhood.
I tried to talk to the supervisor about it, I complained to her supervisor, nothing was done. The only responses to my complaints were that I couldn't do the job, that I was incapable. Who can work effectively with that constantly thrown at you? Sometimes there's no fix to the bullying, but to leave and get another job.
Plantation Management Model
Formerly with USDA
Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:26 AM
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After years of bullying subordinates, my GS-15 manager got promoted to SES. He's still there and still a problem. Management chooses to ignore pleas for help from victims.
One of the corporate values established in this SES's component Strategic Plan was "keep your head down and let the flak pass" and "if you aren't being criticized, you must not be doing anything."
I moved on and my health has improved immensely.
It's Hard to Report Workplace Bullying
United States Postal Service
Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:28 AM
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I was bullied once, not by a boss, but by a subordinate who was supposed to be supporting me in a program. Previously, she had been led to believe that she would be handling the assignment herself, so resented it when I was given the assignment, and she was placed in a supporting role. Unfortunately, I did not have hiring/firing authority over her. She did everything she could to sabotage the program, from delaying work, turning in substandard work, arguing with -- and challenging -- me about everything, suggesting I do her tasks myself, etc. I repeatedly complained to my supervisor, who simply regarded it as a personality conflict and faulted me for not being able to get along with the bully, who had everyone else totally snowed. I finally only got relief when the big boss saw me crying one morning and made the mistake of asking how I was doing. He separated our responsibilities, and -- shortly thereafter -- the bully left the company.
Begging a bully for justice?
DOJ
Thu Mar 5, 2009 10:52 AM
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While I understand your point about confronting the bully (or sexual harasser), I think it is unrealistic. It's sort of like telling the victim of domestic violence to say "Please don't hurt me any more." And I imagine, in spite of your comment about effectiveness, it really isn't effective at all.
A person who bullies or commits other violence is a sadist. A Sadist likes to inflict pain and win power over others. Hearing that his/her methods are causing pain and making the victim vulnerable only seems likely to give the bully/sadist his satisfaction and to reward the bullying behavior.
But suffering in silence is definitely not effective either. I would suggest another method you mentioned in a previous article: report the behavior. Based on my own experiences, the more light shed on the matter, the less able the agency is to sweep it under the rug and allow the behavior to continue, which unfortunately seems to be the knee-jerk reaction of management.
retired due to bullying
VA
Thu Mar 5, 2009 11:44 AM
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Count me as a female who had to leave my job due to bullying by female supervisors. I was fortunate that my 20-yr anniversary coincided with a Federal early retirement offer. My blood pressure fell 30 points in the six months following my retirement. As I am a FERS retiree, the economic meltdown has decimated my account; in spite of that, I wake up every day thankful that I do not have to face the harassment and bullying that I lived with for years as a VA employee.
WORKPLACE BULLYING IS ALIVE
USMC
Thu Mar 5, 2009 12:50 PM
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I have been the target of bullying.
It is bad when the boss and co-workers get togehter to bully one person (and tried to get that person fired or try to force them out).
I had one boss that wanted to get rid of me so badly that she went to one of my co-workers and had the co-worker say that I made a racail comment to her and they went to the command officer and stated this lie.
I have taken a lie detector test and passed but it has ruin my career here because so many people believe this lie.
Bottom line is that they got away with it.
They get away with it because management always protects management.
Re: WORKPLACE BULLYING IS ALIVE
Various agencies
Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:27 AM
The best (and sometimes ONLY) solution is to get into another work group. And yes, it has been my observation that these managers are in their current roles due to quotas and "equal opportunity." And yes, I'm a female of color, but that hasn't blinded me to the fact that many are promoted to their level of incompetence. I'm biding my time until I can retire and pray my health holds on until then.