Being treated badly at work

[mrsm22]

Hi people, it is unlike me to make a post like this but it is troubling me a lot and I always find Mumsnet to be very helpful with advice and I would really appreciate some honest advice and opinions as I really don't know what to do in this situation. I will try not to be too boring Nd give a bit of background. Basically I have quite a good job (worked hard to get there) and have bed there for 6 years. Generally I enjoy my job and get on well with everyone usually (it's a huge company I work for ). I went on maternity leave for a year and finally managed to negotiate part time hours for when I went back to work. I returned to my job in June, which was really hard leaving my young child etc but I wanted to give it a go working less hours. I know my job inside out however a few changes have occurred while I've been on maternity leave and there are two new people in the team I work in. One lady seems to have a real dislike for me and I have no idea why as I have done nothing but be friendly and chatty and nice since I went back in June. This lady is much older than me, in her mid 50's actually and I am early 30's. Anyway in my first few weeks back at work she started making rude remarks at me and being unpleasant with nasty jibes during the day but I chose to ignore them. I told my husband and he said to ignore her. I wish now that I hadn't let this continue but I don't like to cause trouble at work. This went on and on and she would be checking up on me, asking what I was working on and if I has finished a certain job yet etc and things that you'd expect a manager or more senior person to ask and I felt targeted and watched. Bare in mind she is the same grade as me. I continued to put up with this until July when one day I was in the office and received an email from her which she had sent to me and copied in both our manager and a more senior person in the company and it was titled 'feedback' and basically this lady had taken it upon herself to write a load of lies about me to try and obviously cause trouble. Everything she wrote was made up, things such as I late every morning to work and take long lunch breaks and am always on the phone. Absolutely none of these things were true and I could back things up such as the time I arrive to work. But anyway, this really upset me and when I read the email I was stunned and just couldn't believe it . I burst into tears and had to have a meeting with my manager where I finally spoke up and said that she had not been very nice to me previously . I didn't get into trouble as nothing she had said about me could be evidenced and she was told to stop watching me and acting like a manager etc and was warned about the way she had been speaking to me. After this, things felt awkward at work but I remained friendly and civil and she started to be much more friendly and I thought that maybe she had learnt her lesson. Only out of the blue yesterday I was called into a meeting by my manager as she has now apparently made up a load of other things about me and is trying to get me into trouble at work. She made up something about some work I did yesterday and luckily I managed to prove she was wrong but she is putting me on the manager's radar and it is really making work unpleasant. She has also turned another person in our team against me as neither if them speak to me at all now. I really don't know what I have done wrong or to upset this woman. I come to work to get on with my job and go home to my family. It is hard enough leaving my child to go to work without this petty rubbish going on at work. Do you think I should leave? Or keep putting up with this? Any advice appreciated.

[kiwimumof2boys]

How was last week OP ?

[SugarMouse1]

Hi,
You have my sympathy and admiration for dealing with this. Are you in a union? could you get their advice?

Is there any way that you could move departments within your job or transfer to a different branch or similar/ do your work at home?

As for why this woman doesn't like you, don't take this the wrong way, but do you talk about your kid a lot? Expect a lot of special treatment? Everyone to move things around to accommodate you?

Its no excuse, but the behaviour of new mums can be extremely irritating to some people.

And just keep in mind that this woman is only the same level as you, not your superior, has no power over you!

[Happyperson123]

mrsmm22

Just read all this thread - oh boy I feel for you. What the new boss is doing is offering mediation - and basically ignoring the bullying.

Unfortunately you have to go along with it. Eventually mental woman will show her true colours to the wrong person.

Kill her with kindness meantime - and inside you can just watch and think what a total idiot she is and that you're above it all.

Good luck and hugs!

[EBearhug]

What breatheslowly says. You have to give it a go, else you'll be the one in the wrong - and the best case scenario is that it really does improve things.

Meanwhile, get your CV in tip top condition and start looking round. Also, take a log of any incidents. Not telling tales is all very well, but if there really is bullying, you do need to be sble to make a complaint. Also keeping a log may dhow you that things really are getting better, because hopefully, you will end up with fewer and fewer entries in it, until you've gone a whole week or month or more with nothing.

But CV, too. That way, you end up being ready whichever way it goes.

[breatheslowly]

I think that you should give it a go while also getting your CV together and applying for other jobs. That would keep your options open with your existing role. If you do apply elsewhere, do approach companies offering FT jobs as well as PT, to see if they would consider you doing the job PT or a job share. That is how I found my PT job and opens up more roles to apply for.

[mrsm22]

Hi everyone, just an update about this week. Well I went to work on Thursday and it wasn't a pleasant day. No one spoke to me the whole day and there was a real atmosphere . The team only consists of me , horrible woman , her sidekick and team leader. I had a meeting with our new manager that day (just a meet each other and get to know each other etc) and I thought I would be honest so explained about all the trouble with horrible woman. The manager seemed very nice and she said she had come across many situations like this before and that it's very common. When I used the words bullying and that I feel like I am being victimised she said she agreed that horrible woman sounds like a bully but said that she would get it sorted. Our manager had a separate not to one with each of us for an hour over Thursday and Friday and then on Friday, still no one spoke to me all day. On Friday afternoon our manager called a meeting for the 3 of us (me , horrible woman and her side kick) and she said in front of us all that she had listened to is all separately and that we all had our own versions and reasons and that we all need to start again and try to become friends and that she had suggestions. Now we have to have a 10 to 20 minute coffee break together every day that we are all in the office, so every weds thurs and Friday at around 11am where we chat informally and can even bring in biscuits. (Doesn't that make it all better)? She said we can discuss what we are each working on too and try to build bridges. She also said that there has to be no more telling tales on each other and that the key is to communicate with each other. That was it. So starting next weds we have got to do this coffee thing and be nice. I don't know what to think. I think the idea is nice if it works but I don't think it will change the fact she does not like me and in a way she has got away with it. What does everyone think, should I bite the bullet and give it a go? How friendly do I be? Do I hold out an olive brand by taking in biscuits on weds or be more cautious?

[breatheslowly]

How did it go at work today?

[coolkat]

If you can the last post was good rise above it and continue to show how good you are at your job. She will come a cropper one day.

Yes I have been made to feel so unhappy I have decided to leave - being so stressed and paranoid about your so called team mates is not healthy. Bizarrely so many other lovely people have since said they can't believe another ladies behaviour. Everyone seems to know what the problem is but noones brave enough to tackle it - including me.

[NotDead]

to deal with that don't engage. . I call it..rather un pc..'watching the mental' step back mentally and just observe how crazy and obsessive her behaviour is.

With the new manager be nice and let bile woman show her colours if she chooses to. If her criticisms are brought up say that you think she is having a breakdown as she had been sending obsessively critical emails and that you are the current target. Say that this has been very difficult for other managers to deal with but you are happy to help in any way you can and leave it at that.

[kiwimumof2boys]

I would also email Simon, saying what EBearhug said in last paragraph copying your manager in. And leave it at that.
OP, I have totally been there, done that. I think you need to send an email that was suggested last page, re horrible bullying woman. I think your manager just wants to brush it under the carpet and not deal with it. That is sadly common, but if it's left alone it's just gonna snowball.
If she is going to be horrible after you've complained - well she can't be any worse than what she is now ?
I'd say she has a history of doing this. At my last work I had a horrible woman like this, and I found out later where she'd previously been employed as a temp, they refused to make her permanent due to her nastiness and gossiping.
I'd say a lot of your workmates really don't like her, but obviously don't say anything.
As one of my old colleagues said - she's jealous as you're younger, prettier and more qualified than her. Jealousies like this causing bullying behaviour should not happen in the workplace, unfortunately they do sometimes.
Good luck and let me know how you get on. PM me if you want.

[EBearhug]

I would put today down to one of those things, too. Especially as we fairly often have to remind my own manager that X isn't in today, he's got the day off, and it's in the leave calendar, and was mentioned in the last team meeting, when the manager asks around 10:30am or so if any of us has heard from X, because he should have been in touch before now, if he was ill, and we haven't heard about traffic problems...

If you get on okay with Simon, is it worth having a word with him to say how such errors really aren't helping a difficult situation and you'd appreciate more support in future?

[mrsm22]

Sorry Coolkat that this has happened to you. Have you ended up having to hand in your notice? I'm so surprised that this sort of thing goes on in the workplace. I hope you are ok. x

[coolkat]

I totally feel for you op - I have had similar at work recently. Am counting down the days until I leave. So unhappy. Hope tomorrow goes ok x

[Fozzleyplum]

OP, have PM'd you.

[breatheslowly]

I'd be tempted to put today's incident down to being "just one of those things" to avoid looking paranoid. Focus on the woman who has really been causing trouble.

[mrsm22]

I know this was a misunderstanding this morning but Simon is one of my team and a sort of team leader who looks after our team. I'm really disappointed that he would just go and ring the new team manager without ringing me first. I genuinely haven't done anything wrong and yet the team I'm in are keen to force me out of my job and I can see that. I am repeatedly getting accused of things and then when it is looked into I get an apology but is this fair or am I being picked on?

[mrsm22]

Hello all, just a quick update. Sadly things are getting worse and I haven't even been back into work since Friday as my working days are weds , thurs and Friday. I booked today off as holiday ages ago as it is my DH 's birthday. I got a call at 10am from my manager, very cold and unfriendly asking why I wasn't at work today. I explained that I was on holiday and that it had all been booked off properly but she refused to listen and said that failing to turn up to work is a dismissible offence and that she would need to see me tomorrow. Just a bit of background, this woman is our new team manager who has only just tKen over from 1st October, so already this is a good start for me with her . She said that Simon, our team leader had called her to say I hadn't showed up today, which is strange as I booked the day off with him . She was very rude and the problem is that this new manager knows the woman in my ram who dislikes me, she knows her personally out of work, so I know I am fighting a losing battle. I rang Simon and said what is going on and that I had booked the day off a while ago. Eventually he looked and found that I had and he apologised. But I am furious and upset as it is just one thing after another and I'm dreading going in to work tomorrow. I know I won't get anywhere with this situation and I feel I'm just going to have to hand in my notice. Can anyone tell me if I have to by law give a month or what can I do and how do I hand in my notice ? Am I also allowed to raise a grievance while I'm working my notice. It's just going to be one thing after another . They have ruined my day off.

[InTheRedCorner]

She is making herself look very silly in the eyes of management, especially as you have been able to prove time after time that her allegations are false.

Keep good records and hold your head up high, you have done nothing wrong!

I would request a meeting with your manager and this women, tell them factually she is making your working day uncomfortable, management should have thought to bring you together by now any way.

[mrsm22]

I just wanted to say a big thank you for all of the kind words and advice that has been posted. It really does help to air things on here. Thank you especially to Marriedinwhite, I definitely will pm you if I need any more help. It is extremely kind of you to offer.
Ariana- so sorry to hear that you have had problems too at work and that you are off work over it all. I think working in an office can be like this, there are always troublemaker 's .

I am not back at work until Thursday but I am really not looking forward to it as I have no idea what is in store for me or whether I will get called into a room again over yet another false allegation. Anyway I will post on here on Thursday evening to let you all know how it goes this week.
Thank you again x

[marriedinwhiteisback]

Just go to the meeting coolly and calmly and take some notes and copies of the correspondence with you. Don't raise it as a complaint, rather as a problem that needs solving for the good of the team and the good of the business.

What happens when you make a complaint - you are unlikely to know the actual outcome because that is confidential between nasty knickers and the management. But be sure they will have sussed her out and be mindful of what she is up to. She may have a track record and she may try it on again with someone else. Just be non confrontational and factual and ensure there is a record. Most importantly don't let her provoke you to be unprofessional. How will you work with her in future - well if she has her card marked she can't actually go too far again.

Good luck - pm me if you need help - HR manager in rl.

[Arianasmummy]

Hey mrsm22

Look back at what you have just posted - if you are aware that she is nasty towards her son's wife, don't you think others in the office are aware of it as well? These sort always get caught out in the end.

Stick your ground. I know its not easy, i know how hard it can be. I'm currently off work with stress. My 'team manager and team' have been really awful to me because i raised a grievance.

You've had some good advice from others. I really hope you can get this sorted.

M

[mrsm22]

The other thing is that if I do take it further, what is it going to be like working together afterwards? As someone above said , I think it is usually the nasty ones who get away with it. This woman in question really dislikes her sons wife and they have just had a baby. I regularly hear her causing trouble for them and being nasty and interfering. She is a very nasty piece of work.

[mrsm22]

Thank you so much to everyone who has responded , especially Fozzley and Marriedinwhite. I know what I need to do. I have been just trying to ignore it at work and bent later when I come home as I don't like to make a big fuss. In the 6 years I have worked for this firm I have never had an issue with anyone and have always got on well with people.

I work 3 days a week (weds, thurs and Friday) but it is my DH's birthday on weds so saw it as an excuse to book it weekoff . I'm back in work on Thursday and actually have a meeting with our new team manager 12 til 1pm on the Thursday. I've been weighing up whether or not to say anything. The meeting is for the new manager to get to know us better. My concern is that she has booked an hour with everyone and I am not sure what the other lady will say. Is she likely to say things about me and bring things up. My husband thinks that if I say something and tell the new manager all about what has gone on that she will think I'm a trouble caused but at the same time if I do day something I might be covering my back .
It is very difficult. If it wasn't a work situation I would be a bit stronger or more able to stand up to her. The problem is that you have to be so careful what you say to people at work and how you say it.

[Fozzleyplum]

I see situations like this regularly in my practice (I'm an employment solicitor).

I'd agree with the suggestions above that you raise this in writing with your boss. Include as much detail as possible. Also include detail about the effect your colleague's behaviour is having on you. Make it clear that you are raising a grievance about your colleague harassing you. I would request a meeting with your boss to hand over the grievance. Explain that you are so concerned about your colleague's behaviour that you have been advised to hand in a written grievance.

The reason I advise this course of action is that some employers/bosses like to take the line of least resistance and don't think to look at the bigger picture if one employee is making repeated false allegations about another. They simply deal with the allegations, not the fact that they are being made maliciously.

There seems to be a lot of this about at the moment; I posted on another thread about this a couple of days ago and I've helped an employer client to deal with an exactly similar problem only this week. If an employee won't get on with another employee, and/or makes false allegations against another, it can be a reason to dismiss.

[marriedinwhiteisback]

OK OP, you have two evidenced examples of bullying. That's what it is, malicious, nasty behaviour that makes you feel bad and dread work.

On Monday you need to send your boss the following e-mail or something similar.

Dear Boss
I am noting the two incidents with x. The first happened on (see copy of e-mail attached) and you and I discussed it and you agreed I had done nothing wrong. The second happened on x and you are aware of the extent to which it upset me and that I was visibly distressed. You also confirmed that the allegations against me were untrue.

I have been worried and unhappy about this all weekend and I would like to receive some reassurance that steps have been taken to ensure that x will not repeat these vexatious allegations. I do not wish to take the matter up formally but would like some options about what I can do if there is a recurrence of this upsetting behaviour.

I like my job and do my best to do it to the best of my abilities and would like to reassure you that it is not my intention to cause trouble or additional work but I feel bullied and stressed by the behaviour of another member of staff towards me and do not feel this is acceptable.

Thank you for your help.

OP.