New job - feeling a bit shocked by something that happened

[bagpuss90]

Sorry me again 🙄I’m semi retired , I started a new part time job today. Everyone was lovely, very helpful and friendly . I’ve no complaints at all. However I overheard some of the staff laughing about one of their colleagues who I gathered was off work with stress and anxiety. Two of them were mimicking their colleague having a panic attack and hyper ventilating. Obviously I don’t know the back story and I’ve obviously never met their colleague - but AIBU to be a bit shocked by this. I’ve suffered panic attacks myself -though thankfully not for years . But I know how debilitating they can be. I just thought it was really cruel and unkind. It’s put me off the job tbh though otherwise I did enjoy the day

If anyone tried to do this in my place of work they’d be given a verbal warning. Appalling behaviour!

Not in mine and that kind of attitude would not be tolerated.

@simiisme

It sounds like my old colleague……..!

This is not normal and wouldn't be acceptable in my place of work. Is the job in the nhs their terrible for being immature bullies

How do they know the colleague has been off because of this?

I think it's disrespectful them knowing (perhaps the manager told them?) And also this sort of behaviour is not normal, it is usually from people who may dislike the colleague? But also, the se people are horrible.

I would say keep your distance with these people, and always tell your manager not to tell anyone the reason you are off ( if you are of course).

Unfortunately you will always find horrible people at work, whether it's this place or another place.

Not where I work and I’d complain too

Oh dear, you have encountered the genus "cuntus horribilus" in the wild.

I just wrote something very similar before seeing your comment. I couldn't agree more the only adults I can imagine acting like this are nhs staff

Hear more and more of this ..
My son left his job last week because of how his colleagues took the mick out of two others when their not there, management did nothing
Victims both on the autistic spectrum one of the girls overheard and was crying..

well known company too ..

If it's your first day you won't know the full story so, while it's unkind, they may have good reason for making fun of the absent colleague - they may have form for throwing sickies or faking it to get time off etc etc
Also we don't know what job this is, some workplaces take things more seriously than others.

Good reason for making fun of someone behind their back? How nice.

Knowing the full story is irrelevant you don't act like this

No it is not!

Since you don't know the backstory, maybe keep a cool head? There are daisies who cry wolf everytime is convenient, fake panic attacks, blame every shortcoming on mental health problems...It's an easy way out and some use it.

Oh, that is sooooo untrue.

It's really not

They sound really thick and should count themselves lucky they have never suffered them. Panic attacks are extremely distressing and can lead to severe avoidance of situations where one may be triggered.
I feel sorry for you being stuck with these twats.

Like GoldenCupidon said. I have worked with someone like that. Whenever work got busier she'd be off with stress. Like clockwork.

If that's normal in that workplace OP, no wonder the poor person is off sick.

I'd resign (if I could afford to) and I'd tell the boss/owner exactly why.

Normal? Don’t know where you work or live
its certainly not acceptable as normal here
thank heavens

It depends-in our workplace there is always one particular person who is always off sick. Loads of drama which would normally make you sympathetic-but no longer as we’re sick to the back teeth of her always going off with stress or ‘mental health’ and leaving the rest of us to do her work-even though there are other staff members who have difficulties in their personal lives. And when her 6 month full pay runs out, she’s back at work-making sure it coincides with the end of the school holidays of course. May be your colleague is one of those. If not, that’s pretty mean.

Never happened to me in 40 years of NHS work.

OP just focus on the good bits of the job if you can. You can’t quit just yet because of this. It’s disappointing when people behave like this as it taints your view of them. Give it time but keep an eye on workplace culture.

It's uncalled for and very mean.
You've seen their true colours early on (which is good), so take heed.

What kind of shitty employer would allow this? What kind of shitty employees would do this?

Oh yes, complete cunts!

@MrsMcisaCt
It doesn't happen in my company. Employees are very carefully chosen.

I think I'm very lucky but sadly it's probably very much the exception to the rule.