Everything you described is what exactly what I read in U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey, when “management” fails to believe or even discredits a target’s issues on being bullied by another worker or boss. I can’t believe bullies are not only allowed to keep practicing their harassment, but are eventually promoted.

I encourage readers to read How Bullying Happens to understand how bullying can happen in the workplace.

Thank you again for being so detailed about your experience and recommending that if target of a bully should find another job.

Much could be said about the information in the article but as one who has experienced the psychological trauma of being a target, I would like to comment on your statement, “Bullies operate with confidence that they will not be punished because they enjoy support from higher-ups who can protect them if and when they are exposed.”

I was the target of a bully for over 2.5 years at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, (a part of the Trinity Health system headquartered in Novi, Michigan), in Boise Idaho. One of the ironies of workplace bullying is that bullying is more common in health care than most other areas, even though health care businesses claim to care about and provide healing for people. Bullies are often protected by management.

At St. Alphonsus I reported the bullying to management numerous times withour ever receiving a relevant response. I was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of the bullying, and reported the PTSD injury to various levels of management (including the CEO) more than 2 dozen times. No one responded addressing the fact that I was being injured. On the other hand the bully was coddled by management. She made numerous false accusations against me trying to get me fired, and they were repeated accusingly back to me by management almost word for word. I was never given an opportunity to respond to her charges in front of either her or management.

Management refused to listen to my side of the story. I was threatened with termination for reporting the PTSD injury to management. Eventually I had to find another job even though I worked at St. Alphonus for 30 years and had an excellent work record.

However the bully was promoted to a day shift job and eventually into a supervisory position. The department manager who refused to address the problem and claimed that the PTSD injury was “petty” also received a significant promotion.

Although this is probably what management wants, I would have to recommend that if you become the target of a bully in the workplace especially in the health care field, you might as well start looking for another job. It’s highly unlikely that management will be supportive, or do anything to stop the bully and protect you from injury and disability.

It’s unbelievable how a hard working person can devote decades of his/her life to an employer only to be treated like scum when requesting assistance from the employer to stop abusive behavior from a co-worker.

Only when awareness rises and/or legislation is enacted to protect the employees from bullies will the victims of abuse have any recourse other than seeking employment elsewhere.

Thanks again.
Leonard Nolt
http://www.leonardnolt.blogspot.com

This approach also can backfire, but takes a lot longer. You’re peers will not trust you and that will cost you in the long run.

Paul and Donna, thanks for adding value to this post to force me to be clearer on my intentions with this post. I just watched Star Trek Voyager, saw Seven of Nine and knew I had to write something about it after listening to Seven speak!

I wonder though if gender is an infuence…are women who sound intelligent and confident more likely to be perceived as arrogant or condescending?

All good personal brands need to be aware of the impact they have across all groups and if anything is being perceived as a weakness how to minimize it’s impact.

Thank you for writing this book!

Honestly I was blown away by your wonderful review of my book, “Just Listen” and more importantly that you found it so helpful and useful…as well as “Usable” to quote the insights I add at the end of each chapter.

I continue to be interested in the importance of listening and recently discovered that it also offered the best way to calm anxiety in people, both others and your own. That is because when you: a) feel listened to and are able to get things off your chest and exhale it reduces anxiety; and b) when you concentrate and focus on what’s on other people’s mind, that get your mind off your anxiety.

Thanks again for your support for my ideas and work and my new book.

Dr. G

Good luck!

Please feel free to email me if you have additional questions, I may be able to find some templates that I used for this workload analysis. My email address is smartlemming@gmail.com.

Thank you for posting this - much appreciated.

Thanks for noticing the post. I’m slowly adding content from old Drupal site into this one, with minor updates and edits (I tend to leave out words, mostly verbs).

I’ve run out of ways to explain it/request it from one of my junior staff. I’ve tried positive reinforcement. Such as when he does provide me information and alternatives and lists out the pros/cons and his recommendation, I try to take his recommendation (as long I see it as truly viable) even if I might have gone a different route. All that seems to come from that is the next time he simply gives me a solution since he expects I’ll simply take it. And we’re right back to beginning.

I recognize this post from a previous incarnation of Smart Lemming. One of my favorites, glad it’s been brought back to life.

~ Lisa
Back to herding cats …

Thank you! I’m so happy to hear someone is benefiting from my downloads. Please feel free to email me at smartlemming@gmail.com if you have any other questions. I have other templates that might be useful for your situation. I just haven’t had time to make them available on the site.

Good luck!

Lori

My vocabulary fails me! I do not have the words to express my appreciation to you for these templates you have provided!

They are outstanding!

Not only will they save me countless hours recreating the wheel, but they will help keep me on track and focused!

What you have provided is “above and beyond” and this is one earnest, but unemployed, job seeker who thanks you from the bottom of her near empty pockets!

Wish me luck!

Karen

I wonder how that person will cope with Twitter?

If I didn’t travel so much, I’d would probably get another chow. I wish I could because they are wonderful dogs.