I work in a team of 6 and since I started in autumn they have slowly began withdrawing any communication towards
me. I was shy at first but I made an effort to get to know each lady and with 15 years experience in the job I thought I’d be welcomed as the missing hands they needed. Since Christmas I have been the centre of the gossip.
It’s never in front of me but it’s very obvious as they will go to the office and look at me through the window as they speak. Then they loudly talk about a fake conversation as they leave. No one makes eye contact with me and I’m blanked by 1 woman in particular who seems to hate me intensely and will not equally work in pairs with me. They all group together at lunch to talk about their families or tv shows while pretending I’m not even there. They will skip me to make eye contact with the ladies either side of me to make it clear I’m not welcome in their conversation. I usually eat my lunch outside alone or in the store cupboard (as it has a comfortable chair).
They all help each other by doing thoughtful things to make their jobs easier but they have never done this with me and act like I don’t exist.
On the rare occasion someone asks me something I will engage in conversation and be friendly. It’s almost like I have to wait for permission to speak though. It’s a very toxic team, of which my manager is also part of and seems to hate me a lot. She has caused issues by twisting things that have been said to make me look stupid and a liar. I was shouted at for not working hard enough and giving more jobs to do despite having more experience and understanding of the job than even she does. I have cried on many occasions when I have been pulled up over minor things that others have done and got away with unfairly. A co worker was paid for a day off to go shopping but I was refused to be paid when my car broke down and I couldn’t get in that day despite willingly wanting to use annual leave.
im not sure what it is that I have done but they clearly don’t like me. I’m not rude I don’t brag I’m just me a laid back mum who speaks to anyone who is kind to me. I don’t want to drag it out by reporting them as HR are good friends with some of these ladies and will not act on anything I say. I’m very isolated with nobody to talk to and it makes the day slow and harder.
someone else within the company said it’s common for the ‘new lady’ to be targeted as the focal point of bitchiness. I’m not sure why though as they were all the new lady at one point! I have heard them gossip about each other so they clearly aren’t nice women in general. It’s turned into a huge rant but I could do with some advice about how I can carry on without letting it get to me. They talk about how bullying is wrong and mentally damaging and yet that’s how I feel I’m being treated.
I’ve just started a training programme for a side job so I’m seriously considering leaving although I can’t afford to until I’m fully trained and have clients.
If you made it this far any comments will be appreciated it’s not as simple for me to just ignore it as I was treated like this in my childhood so it’s very triggering for me so any words of encouragement would be great