Capture Real-World Career Insight & Advice That Will Prep You for The Big Time

Where can one get experience if no one will give a chance

Posted by Sunshine on November 10, 2006 12:27 PM

I have a co-worker that is extremely verbally abusive to me. I have taken it several times, and actually other co-workers have taken her verbal abuse. I saw an article on abuse in the workplace on Yahoo the other day, which lead to several other links/articles on this issue. I didn't realize that verbal abuse is just as much an issue as sexual abuse in the office, or other forms of abuse. Oh did I mention this co-worker is one of two sisters of my boss. Yes, you heard me right, she is my boss' sister. And my boss has actually told me quote "Well she's like that some times". She has even smacked my hand a couple of times, and other co-workers. Oh, I forgot the physical abuse. The articles call this type of person the "Office Bully", which according to the articles is normally the Boss. I thought about giving her those articles the next time she does this abuse to me, and highlighting the abusive and LAWSUIT parts. I also mentioned to a co-worker in our department that this person is a walking Lawsuit waiting to happen for herself, and for the company for letting her get away with it. After all that, I'm a Temp, and I love my Boss. The job isn't all that bad, but my boss is really cool, and she makes up for whatever else is wrong. Please advise.

Posted by Russ in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 11, 2006 2:46 AM

*Snorts.*
At least she's got a job she can stand to go to. I despise my job with a firey, burning passion, but I can't quit because I need the money or I'll be kicked out of my apt. onto the streets.

I can't seem to get another job because I "don't have the experience." If I can't get the job, how am I supposed to get experience?! It's driving me batty, because even when I hate a job I still work as hard as possible, and I learn quickly, but no employers want to hire me except the ones with incredibly high employee turnover rates.

Posted by Lyssa on November 15, 2006 4:06 PM

Those are the most pathetic (and obvious) reasons I've heard. It's basically saying: "Try to be nice to your co-worker and see what happens, but if it doesn't work out, than deal with it and stay positive." What kind of advice is that? I know someone who hates me to the bones even when I tried to be nice to her (for whatever reason). Well, in that case, I guess, I'll just have to kick her in the bones as well...

Posted by app on November 28, 2006 12:42 AM

I agree. What a pathetic thing to have to suppress who you are and suck up to a workplace bully to disengage their hostility towards you! Whatever happened to verbal warning, written warning, and termination?

Posted by Rachael Warren on May 3, 2007 12:20 AM

It depends how serious the issue is. Sometimes two people can dislike each other and still maintain formality and not let the problem go over the line. However, sometimes there are people who are harmful or who have some reason to want to do damage. I am single and I can say that one time there was a divorced woman in my department who was determined to get any man in the department, and she saw me as a competitor who had to be taken down, even though the idea of a match with these men was impossible / ridiculous. The advice to try to be the professional one is correct. Always try to keep yourself in the role of the professional. You do not have to everyone's pal or best friend, but try to keep everything cordial. Meanwhile, put time and effort into the people you do get along with, since that improves your position of strength. Most bosses will look unfavorably on a complaint that someone is treating you badly. Usually the complainer gets burned more than the person with the offensive behavior. It's not fair, but that's the way it usually happens.

Posted by Northern California on February 9, 2008 1:48 AM