What is the best way to respond to ridicule and humiliation?

Question

In the office where I work, some of the coworkers use destructive criticism and mockery. When this happens I do not function. My mind is no longer able to concentrate. So far I have chosen not to engage in verbal conflict as I abhor confrontation.

Answer 1

The first step is to tell them you do not appreciate their comments and would like it to stop. If you have to tell them a second time also tell them you will go to your manager and human resources, if they continue.

If you go to your manager and human resources you need to be specific. Don't just complain. Keep a record of what was said, by whom, when and under what circumstances. Also what your responses were and let them know that your attempts to get your coworkers to stop have failed.

As a manager I expect my employees to handle their problems amongst themselves and only bring issues to me that they have been unable to resolve. Do not say that you are "unable to work", say it "makes it difficult" to work, or words to that effect.

Also, make sure you are calm when you approach your manager. It may be a good idea to write down what you want to say and review it before you do this.

Answer 2

Ignore the comments when you're around them because commenting will only make them worse. Then turn around and report the behavior to their superiors.

Explain how destructive it is to the working environment rather than personalizing it since one person's complaints might not do anything. The whole, on the other hand, would spur them into action. The people making these comments might just find themselves out of a job. Or at least, moved to another department.

Answer 3

Grin and bear it, then confront them with positive issues. But dont join them in backfighting or destructive criticisim. If you are right. . . go and confront them, show them you are not a doormat. Excel in your work. Go to the big boss, if its affecting your work, and tell him that the ambience at work is destructive and not condusive to healthy relationship which affects the performance of employees as a whole. If no action is done, leave your job, it will slowly kill your enthusiasm and love for your work and at the end you'll suffer due to poor performance.

Answer 4

Laugh at them and say something really smart a**ed back to them and forget about it.
On my job we have learned that to deal with that kind of stress is to make a joke out of the insult or person that delivered it.
Now if it gets really heated you may need to go to management and have something done about it that way.
Human Resources will step in at that point and things will get nasty for a bit, but that is the only thing that you will be able to do.

Answer 5

If it were me, I would laugh along with them. This takes the fun out of it. Shutting down and isolating yourself gives them a sense of some sort of twisted accomplishment. "Agreeing" with all of their criticism - saying, hmmmm, that's something to think about -would also take all the fun out of it. I hate confrontation too. I would do whatever I could to take their fun away by defusing the situation.

Answer 6

Say and think the same thing--"That's nonsense!"

And then, "I'm busy."

And get busy doing your work and ignore the rest of whatever is said.

Also, don't offer to help people who make such comments.

Answer 7

You cannot stop them from having bad opinions about you but you can always prove to them that they are wrong about their opinions...

Answer 8

remain silent, ignore but deep in your heart forgive

Answer 9

turn them in or grin and bare its your choice just dont bottle it up and go postal

Answer 10

go postal on them and watch them beg for mercy...it'll teach them a lesson