i am being bullied at work?

Question

i work in a shop with a few other people and the owner is bullying me. I am always getting shouted at for little things, like when i am asked to sweep up if a bit of paper is found on the floor i am shouted at and humiliated in front of everyone.
the other day he shouted at me for putting a price label in the wrong place on a box and kept on and on. he told me if i do that again i will be 'out' and i started to cry. i have only worked in the shop for a few weeks and feel i dont have a choice because i had been unemployed for a long time before i got the job.

is there anything that i can do to stop this? I just want my job to work but there is no one higher up that i can go to for help cause he is in charge.

Answer 1

The truth is: bosses can treat you however they like because that's what this society says is acceptable. Therefore, the only weapon you have is how difficult it would be for your employer to replace you and how well you are performing your job relative to how others have performed it before you (which includes how much your employers and co-workers like and respect you). If he can take anybody off the street to do your job, you've got a problem. If your fellow co-workers do not like you, you also have a problem.

The longer you accept this abuse, the more of an effect it will have on your motivation, energy, and self-esteem. This owner is probably aware of your long period of unemployment and knows you don't have many other choices. This means he owns you, he knows it.

You can stand up to your boss in a professional manner. But even with that, you are taking the risk of losing your job because the owner can do whatever he wants. You might want to try asking him for a few minutes alone and letting him know you would like to be the best employee you can. Ask him how you can improve. Be prepared for the answers. Write them down. Incorporate them into your everyday behavior consistently and without fail.

If you are willing to take the risk of losing your job by standing up for yourself, the next time he rants and raves, calmly look him in the eye and say, "I'd like to help you out, Mr. ____, but you're going to have to talk to me better than that. How can I help you?" Say nothing more. Whatever response he has, simply repeat the above statement.

Even with that, my advice is to keep looking for a new job and incorporate what you learned there for someone who has the good sense to appreciate it.

This is your life. They don't have to care. How much do you?

Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi Smarty,

First of all -you are not alone in this situation - bullying is a common occurrence unfortunately.

Secondly I would seriously suggest you start looking for another job - but if you have been out of work for a while see if you can get one whilst sill working at the shop (it is easier to get a job when you have one apparently).

Thirdly - there are several websites that are around to help with people in just your situation....

http://www.bullyonline.org/
http://www.antibullying.net/

Here are just a couple that may help you.

You do not have to put up with bullying from this man even if he is th owner of the store. What he is doing is unfair and immoral and abusive. If you have a look on the above sites they may give you some advice on how to handle the situation and where you stand legally.

Please do not allow him to control your life in this way - you are a better person than he is.

If it is really getting o the point where your motivation and confidence is being rocked then I would suggest leaving - no job or person is worth losing yor self-esteem over.


Oh - another quick amendment - how did you get the job? If it was through the job centre then contact them and ask them as they may be able to help you. If you did get the job through them and you leave they may not be very understanding if you don't approach them first.

Answer 3

Hi just leave there is no point in staying in a job when you have a manager like that, weather you have been unemployed for a long while or not. He is just like you say a bully. I was in the same situation like you and was unemployed and i got a job in a shop this time the it was women manager and you know how picky some women are and these people where horrible, they would talk about me behind my back, and look at me like i was thick but the thing is they where suppose to train me up but they just left me too it and if i didnt know what to do they said they told me. Once i had to do a student card and i didnt have a clue, and the deputy manager looked at me and said didnt you do one of these last week and i said no, she said you did, and i said well if i dod i would know how to do it, So she come over sorted it out then went off in a stropp and never told me how to do it or anything So when a women came in and tried to use her discount card, i got the proper manager and she said she was the only one who could have gave the discount anyway. So i wouldnt of been able to do a student card even if i wanted to. So she was telling me one thing and it was wrong. Also the managers where suppose to be knocking a few prices down on sunglasses and they where placed on a counter, but they hadnt been marked down by them, so when i put the sunglasses through they came out at wrong price and i had to call the manager to get the difference refunded, and she told me if i did it again i would get a disiplinery, but it aint my fault when i had a big que and i was the only one serving whilst they where on the shop floor. This i might add was all in my probationary period, and they when it came to take me on all they did was take the piss out of me and the manager even admited that the deputy manager didnt want me to work there but she was willing to give me another chance and i didnt even do anything wrong. So i got the job but she was just on my back all the time and it was good money but my health is more important that being made a fool of, they would of only made my life hell. Which is the same for you so, leave the job and noone will hate you for it. Or stand up to him. I was only at my job for a few weeks but noone deserves to be treated like you are and if it has resulted you to tears its time to get out. I was reduced to tears and i bet like me you just hate to go back not because of the job which you love but because of the people you work with.
There are better jobs out there maybe it will take time to find one but anything is better than being bullyed and feeling so low in yourself. You do have a chioce leave and try and find some where else, as you havent left because you dont like the job you left the job because you where getting bullied in the work place which is discrimination.

Answer 4

Actively look for another job. Stand up for yourself with shop owner=maybe he'll back down. Check with Equal Rights to see if there is something else you can do. Contact Citizens Rights to talk you thru trying to make this unbearable situation bearable until you can get out.

Answer 5

firstly you should not have to put up with any type of bullying,we all know that bullies are cowards,if he is not the outright owner of this buissness then goto the top and lodge a complaint,in the meantime look for another job.
just to put a smile on your face through the working day put exlax in to his tea/coffee and smile to yourself every time you see him run for the toilets..lol
if that don't work get someone to beat the living crap out of him.

good luck.

Answer 6

IGNORE

That's my advice, get yourself to citizens advice and/or go looking for a new job in the meantime because you have the experience. When you get a new job just slam your notice down in front of him and just feel better that you dont have to stay there for long.

Answer 7

If you are being bullied at work, you have a few options,
1. just do nothing....not advisable.
2. (depending on length of service) leave and take him to a tribunal,
3. Leave and get another job, personally I would speak to him and tell him exactly how he is making you feel, if this does not work then contact acas...www.acas.co.uk

Answer 8

You should first begin by speaking to your manager about his behavior with you. Don't hold back, let him know how he is making you feel. If you hit a dead end there, then contact your local EEOC, they can direct you on how to handle this problem. I also suggest that on your days off, you hit the pavement and get more resume's out there for yourself.

Answer 9

i know its hard not too when you are upset but try not to cry as this will only make him do it more, next time he starts just keep your voice calm and say, I'm new I'm learning and doing my best and you are a bully and turn away if he does say anything in reply do not respond good luck

Answer 10

No one should have to work under them conditions.Keep looking for another job.I sincerely hope that one turns up keep your chin up.Good Luck