how can i deal with sneaky female bullies at work?

Answer 1

You know - I read what the others said up above me, and I agree there are official routes you should take -----but, I have devised a system that even though it doesn't really eliminate the problem - it can alleviate your resenting them --- it is called mini-torture. Do things that just fly under the radar. Like hide their pens when they leave their desks, link their paper clips together (not all just enough to irritate them), unplug their receivers on their phones (not every day - just occasionally) Adjust their office chairs down for awhile and then up for awhile.

Just little things that make you laugh inside. Don't get caught though. The beauty of this is if you have done it subtlely enough - this can go on for months! I have even been known to hide a piece of cheese in a kleenex in someone's back drawer and listened to them ask what IS that smell over and over and over. LOL

The temptation is to laugh about it or heaven forbid tell someone. Don't - this only works when no one knows but you! Good Luck!

Answer 2

I learned about sneaky female bullies in my first job. Apparently the 'ladies' wanted my job to go to a friend of theirs, and were very disappointed when I got it instead. They started rumours, tried to make me look bad in various petty ways, and sometimes pages of critical work I was doing 'disappeared' from my desk, leaving me to scramble to redo it in time for a deadline. I decided to be as open and above board as they were sneaky and devious. I addressed rumours and petty stuff head-on, not in a vindictive or righteous way, but I made sure to politely set everyone straight on the misinformation. When working on a critical project, I would ask one of the managers to take a quick look over my finished work to make sure it was satisfactory. I didn't need to do this, but I wanted a manager who could vouch for the work being completed as my backup, just in case. In time the 'ladies' learned they couldn't get under my skin or get me fired and either quit the firm or left me alone. My advice is to do your job to the best of your ability, keep your boss in the loop so if any questions come up about your work you have management in your corner, and never let them see you sweat.

Answer 3

If I'm not mistaken, and this is working in corporate america for nearly 18 years in one of the most unrespected and unsung professions there is in corporate america (the secretary - dictatus proficientus), office bullies are rarely "sneaky"--unless they're doubling as the office gossip. And then the only thing you can do is let your office personae speak for itself. Bullies rely on your fear of confrontation, your fear of not being part of the crowd, belonging to the group (hence, not a team player--if I hear that term one more time, I'll throw up a stapler!), to divide and conquer, in an effort to control you and your future attempts at success within the office. If they intimidate you into being a pack animal, they don't have to worry about you going up against them for promotions. If you don't confront them professionally about their behavior, you lose ground not only with your colleagues, but with your superiors, too (believe me, they are not out of the loop in what happens with their staff--half the time they KNOW there's an office bully of sorts). If you're having a real problem, physical space and personal boundaries violated, tell her/him. You're an adult now, you don't have to worry about being razed or being made fun of for standing up to them. And what are they going to do? Threaten to kick your a** at the revolving doors downstairs at 5 pm? Please! If it's just gossip, I still say watch your conduct in the office (the code words = professional politeness) and give no one any reason to believe the stuff the person(s) is telling them. Again, if it's physical, tell them to back off. If it doesn't work, there's their boss, from there, HR, from there, EEOC. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and your career. That's what school was for--to teach us how to deal with these types of people, how to navigate the work world, how to share our crayons without having to give up the whole box. Or rather how to be a team player without giving up your dignity. Don't let the office bully take yours.

Answer 4

Just Do your job correctly and let the ole hens Cackle! If they are truley Bullying you go to your Boss..Or Their Boss...I find it best to ignore these types..I really dislike working with alot of women for this very reason...Some have nothing better to do but Gossip and be Catty, Cause Trouble.I dont take this crap off of them but confront them head on...I know I'm doing My job and I can work circles around them and do their jobs as well as mine..I let them know this..They dont give me any problems anymore!

Answer 5

I think roxie has more or less the right idea. There is no reason that you should allow people to offend or hurt you. Chances are that, if they feel a need to attack you, it's because they feel threatened by you or jealous of you. That's sad.

Answer 6

Keep your enemies close, but dont get involved in the drama.

Answer 7

ask her on a date

Answer 8

slap the hell out of them

Answer 9

tell them you are sleeping with their husbands and that the men are as disgusting and fat as they are.