Bullying at work

[Lonelyumbrella]

Woman at work said ‘I can smell a cunt that hasn’t been washed in days and the most horrendous body odour’ when I was the only one there and looked at me in a disgusting way like it was me. Our boss lets her get away with it because she is scared of her and I can tell she doesn’t know how to handle her.

Every day this woman finds faults with my work and intimidates me. She belittles me in front of others and has a clique of women who adore her. Several people said she talks about me behind my back.

I complained to HR and she still kept her job. Now she is making my life in work even more difficult. It’s as if she thinks she’s untouchable. I feel like I can’t go to HR again as they investigated the first time and work colleagues didn’t back me up who had witnessed incidences. I can’t get another job as what I do is very specialised. AIBU to think that HR should have sacked her?

Are you in a union? Sounds like you could do with some support with this.
Is there a bullying/ harassment policy in your workplace or a Whistleblowing policy?
Things shouldn’t get worse after going to HR.

YANBU, OP. At our place, the saying is that HR is there to protect the company's reputation and the managers, not the minions who do the groundwork. One person has been reported over and over again, but because they are intimidating, other people won't back up the complaint, and if there isn't any CCTV or witnesses, it's your word against theirs. It can be incredibly unpleasant when the untouchable person/people is/are around, and an absolute joy when they are not.

I am doing my best to try to put my hard hat on and pull them up in front of other people, but it's not easy.

That’s so disgusting of her
speak to acas
record every single incident with dates and times
who is your bosses boss?
Whistelblow and if you’re in a healthcare setting you can also do a a freedom to speak out

Thank you for your replies. I’m so upset over it all. I’m nice to people and she seems to hate that.

Do you reply to her? It’s hard at the time, I know. You could try ‘killing her with kindness’. Gently and quietly dismantle her statements.

Her language is awful you could ask her what kind of grown women actually speaks like that and uses that word.

I think you should try it. Remember that bullies are really weak inside. I’ve seen it so many times.

Having once been in a similar situation if you truly cannot move jobs for some time the best way to handle it was to never react. In one ear out the other, sing a song in your head or something and do not let it impact you. It will be hard, I know and there might be times it gets too much but never show it.

Get validation of your work from elsewhere, actively ask for thei feedback even if you sont share it, it will help to ground you and remind you how great you are. Don't shrink your world and remember everyone can see her for who she is. She clearly has insecurities and is taking it out on you, its her problem not yours.