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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To report colleague for bullying/harassment even though I promised her I wouldn't?

367 replies

SandDancerSkye · 11/04/2016 23:42

Don't really want to out my career (and myself) but basically we are what is classed as a professional role. I have been qualified just 6 months. My supervisor has been qualified 20 years. In the past this woman has gone from been my best mate to calling me slow and lazy, back to being my best mate again and then laughing at me and slagging me off again. It came to a head when she phoned me and ranted at me down the phone about how I'd done everything wrong whilst she was sat with another colleague. It was embarrassing, demeaning and to be honest, really upsetting. And I don't get upset easy. I eventually spoke to her about it. She apologised, said she felt bad and promised she wouldn't do it again and would back off. For a while it was fine but now, 2 months later the "slow" comments are back, she's having a go at me every time she see's me eating my dinner (we have no set time for meals but all tend to eat around 4.30 - nobody else gets hassle, just me) and today I was absolutely livid. I'd just completed a job which I thought I'd done ok on and other colleagues said I'd done great on - she came in ranting and raving at me in front of other staff members (most of which I am senior to), another qualified colleague and a student. I was mortified. Even if I'd done something wrong I could have accepted it and put it right but she was like a dog with a bone - wouldn't let it go, raved on for ages in front of everyone to the point where other staff members left the building and basically just made me look a twat. She then started raving on about how she'd left an important job with "SOMEONE" (whilst nodding in my direction) and that "SOMEONE" never did it. It was Blatent she meant me, so much so that another colleague said "oh dear sand dancer, wonder who that "someone" is and tried to make a joke of it. Everyone left thinking she was on about me (just how she intended) and when they all left she admitted she knew it wasn't me!!! So why try and make everyone believe it was?? She eventually fucked off and left me alone in the office and I ended up crying. And I'm NOT an emotional person. And THEN she called me from somewhere else and had a go at me over the phone in front of other staff members about something else and I could hear her laughing about me to them in the background.

Anyway before we came home, once everyone else had left she came over and asked if we were still friends whilst laughing. I started crying (for fucks sake) and she made out she hadn't realised I was upset, admitted she was out of order to rant at me in front of everyone and apologised whilst adding "are you going to report me to manager?". She's panicking because she's been accused of bullying twice before in other jobs and one more would prob finish her off. She started crying going on about how she was on antidepressants and thinks she needs time off work etc and I told her it was ok and I wouldn't report it. Yet I've come home and done nothing but cry all night. I'm fucking livid. I look like an incompetent twat in front of everyone now, the student won't know what the hell to say to me tomorrow (although before she left tonight she asked if I was ok and said I'd handled it well!! So I know other people thought she was out of order) and to be honest, I feel like a nervous wreck that doesn't want to do any jobs at work alone in fear of being screamed at.

I told her I wouldn't report her. But the more I think about it the more upset and angry I am. AIBU to report her tomorrow?

OP posts:
DinosaursRoar · 12/04/2016 06:53

Adding another "report" post - she shouldn't be in this job.

3luckystars · 12/04/2016 06:54

Good luck today. Its not an easy thing to report someone, but its the right thing. She needs to be stopped. Now is the right time because you have loads of witnesses.
It is happening and it is bullying. Wishing you strength today. Speak up, even though your voice may shake. It will bring good results, for everyone. Good luck.

honeylulu · 12/04/2016 06:57

Given what your colleagues have said about avoiding her, I'd be surprised if she hasn't been reported already. Please do go ahead and report. Don't feel bad about your promise which she bullied of you with the crocodile tears of a manipulator.

Believeitornot · 12/04/2016 06:59

She isn't your friend.

Friends do not treat you this way.

Report her.

Whocansay · 12/04/2016 07:00

Report her. She knows what she's doing, which is why she apologises afterwards. She's a bullying bitch and you owe her nothing.

Congratulations for you upcoming wedding Smile

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 12/04/2016 07:01

OP ignore the "high end boss" whatever the fuck that is and report her. Bullying in the workplace (or anywhere) is completely unacceptable and your concerns should be investigated so that she can be disciplined.

You aren't the first and you won't be the last.So thus for yourself and your colleagues, current and future. Don't let her drive you put of a job you want if you want to remain there.

I know it's daunting, 3 years ago I reported my manager for similar circumstances and worried I wouldn't be taken seriously bit I was, and she lost her job. Our work environment is much, much nicer for everyone now.

Good luck Flowers

RaeSkywalker · 12/04/2016 07:08

Just wanted to add another 'please report'. She's had enough chances, this can't go on. Your employer needs to know. I'd start writing down dates and times of incidents too, as evidence.

It's not easy. Good luck Flowers

MissBattleaxe · 12/04/2016 07:12

Report and list instances as you have done here. List how she makes you feel and don't generalise, be specific. State that it has made you cry, confused you, made you doubt yourself, humiliated you, and made you search for another job. Let us know how it goes. Don't worry if you have to work with her during the investigation. Once you report you are safe. Don't listen to her Poor Me stories. That's just to cover her own back and is part of her abuse of you. Good luck!

Spandexpants007 · 12/04/2016 07:15

Take a day or two off sick without a GP note. Write everything down in clear bullet points today and email it to HR. Tell them the reason youre not at work today is because of her harassment and it has really shaken you deeply. How are they going to deal with it?

PixieChops · 12/04/2016 07:16

Hope you do report her this morning, you can't keep giving her chances because as a PP said she'll just slip back to being a first rate bitch.
Nobody needs that kind of work environment and you shouldn't have to put up with it. Best of luck today Thanks

Spandexpants007 · 12/04/2016 07:16

Yes bullet point in detail. Be factual then say how it made you feel.

Allnamesaretakenffs · 12/04/2016 07:16

Don't let her get away with her disgusting behaviour. You gave her a chance already - one was enough, and too much in some people's eyes. You need to do the right thing by yourself, and report that bitch.

StrictlyMumDancing · 12/04/2016 07:16

I was going to come on and add my experience but lastfirst has pretty much done that word for word, except I stupidly stuck it out and my mental health suffered poorly and I'm a very happy SAHM because the thought of having to return to any workplace causes me massive anxiety and even just staying at home I have massive doubts about my ability to do anything. Eventually I reported, it wasn't easy but I got moved away for her then buggered off on maternity leave.

Please please please report her before you get as bad as me. And report the fact she attempted to coerce you into not reporting it.

Dafspunk · 12/04/2016 07:18

Report her.

Yeahsure · 12/04/2016 07:20

I am also a 'high end' boss Wink. Nope I don't know what that means either!

But I am a senior manager in a large company. I am a tough old bird and I have never reported anyone to HR in 25 years. But I urge and support you in reporting this woman. Her behaviour is shocking and damaging to you and those around you. Don't worry a jot about 'loyalty' or your pledge to not report. Absolutely do not give her another chance!

Good luck - keep it as detailed, succinct and non emotional as you can with HR, make notes beforehand and keep making daily notes.

Spandexpants007 · 12/04/2016 07:22

Take a day or two off without a Gp note. It's understandable in the situation. But be honest about why you are off to HR, although you might want to email in and say something vague to the office manager like 'I'm unwell today and can't come to work' Blame her in your bullet point letter.

MiniCooperLover · 12/04/2016 07:22

Absolutely report her !! She deliberately tried to make you promise not to because she knew she'd gone too far well sod that !!!

Fannycraddock79 · 12/04/2016 07:23

So she bullies you to the point where she knows she would be in trouble if management found out and then emotionally bullies you to not tell? She has blown your 'friendship' already so don't feel bad. Report her and if she asks why afterwards just laugh and say "but we're still friends aren't we?".

Arfarfanarf · 12/04/2016 07:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 12/04/2016 07:28

As a quite senior (def not high end though!) boss myself, I think you should report, and provide details. People have come to me with bullying stories, and I have never thought less of them as a result. I am actively trying to get one such individual promoted at the moment.

Report it immediately.

stoptryingtomakefetchhappen · 12/04/2016 07:31

Another one saying you should report. The issues are all with her and her insecurities, it's nothing to do with you. You are simply an easy target for her bullying and it will not stop unless you take decisive action. Plus she could do the same to others. I have been in this situation on two occasions and in each case I wish I had done something sooner rather than go home crying every night and dreading work the next day. Reporting it formally was the best thing I could ever have done. In the first instance the guy immediately left me alone and actually stopped being such an arse to others too. As it turned out it was his 3rd or 4th official warning and any more complaints they would have been forced to let him go, hence he had to stop behaving that way or lose his job. On the second occasion I went to HR for advice but didn't lodge an official complaint as I wanted to see if I could resolve it directly with my boss first. She actually left the company shortly after (for unrelated reasons) so the issue went away but I still wish I had done something sooner as no doubt she would have gone on to do the same to someone else in the future.

IsItTimeForGinYet · 12/04/2016 07:36

The high end boss (lol!) appears to have disappeared back to the 1950s!

Report report report. Completely unacceptable behaviour. Go and talk to HR and see what policies are in place. Good luck OP and don't let this distract you from your wedding.

louisejxxx · 12/04/2016 07:36

She sounds horrendous....YANBU at all to report her despite saying otherwise.

SandDancerSkye · 12/04/2016 07:38

Thank you for all your messages of support, I really appreciate it. I was in such a mess last night, I've never been in this situation before. I'm amazed at how spot on the rescuer persecuter thing is, that is her all over. She makes out she is my saviour and that everything she does is all about making me the best that I can be as she sees big things for me yet she's my biggest critic there! Thinking back to last night when she saw me crying she even tried to play a psychologist role with me saying stuff like "when I spoke to you like that, how did it make you feel?" !!!?? Wtf??
This place has a ridiculous turn over of staff - I started 5 months ago and I'm struggling to lose weight because of all the leaving buffets we've had. When I first started 5 months ago there were 5 qualifieds at my level - there are now 3 including me and one of them is constantly job searching and has reduced her hours dramatically.
Just a few weeks ago it all erupted in the office when an unqualified member is staff came running out of a room screaming that this woman was a bully and she would not put up with it any longer. The woman chased her out saying "what's wrong?? What did I say??" And the staff member grabbed her coat and left. She was on sick then for months and from what I heard, tried to take it to HR but not sure what happened with it.
Lastfirsteverything - she is EXACTLY the same, tells me little snippets of her difficult life to reel me in including abusive childhood, previous mental health breakdowns, wayward son ... False accusations of bully (!!!!) at work ... And then I feel guilty for wanting to report her and add to it.
But this wasn't an isolated incident, she's made me look stupid so many times, accused me in front of others for stuff I hadn't done, apologised to clients for me saying "she's new" with a grin.
And I can't help but think the first thing she said to me last night after apologising was "are you going to report me?". Because that's her concern, not me.

OP posts:
ProfessorPreciseaBug · 12/04/2016 07:39

OP,
You indicate she has said she is taking anti depressants... If so she is possibly in a very bad place herself..

HOWEVER, that is not excuse for bullying. Clearly you are having problems dealing with it by yourself. So yes you need to take it to a formal level... It will not be easy as bullies are often very manuplative and skilled. She may reply with charm and bonami good humour. Or she may blow up. But underneath she has some bad habits that need to be challenged.

I wish you luck, but stick to it.

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