Will I be seen as trouble maker in new job?

[tippararyshamrock]

I really enjoy the work and most of the people are very nice and supportive.

However, unfortunately I have been put sitting next to 2 really nasty pieces of work. The way they talk about certain colleague and managers is abhorrent.

When I walk in they carry on talking and don't even say good morning. They socialise and are best friends with the line managers. They shout out things about my work to try to shame me (I am not fully trained yet) and are really unhelpful.

Another colleague complained to a higher up manager about one of these line managers for singling her out. Since this happened that line manager has started singling me out and making comments about wanting to throw something at someone (this was after she had obviously found out that a complaint had been made against her.

That day she seemed to single me out too and kept going off for chats with these other two problematic colleagues. They talk incessantly all day and I just cannot concentrate on my work at all. I went to make a coffee and as soon as I got back the line manager and one colleague pounced on me about my work.

The minute one colleague got up to go home they made an absolutely disgusting comment about her and her body and the line manager didn't even correct her, just laughed too.

I really don't want to look like a trouble-maker in my new job but I really want to go to a higher manager. I don't want to have to work with this bully as she is on my team and I can't concentrate with the constant loud chat and the horrible comments and obvious way they talk behind people's back sets off my anxiety.

Please how should I handle this?

No job is ever worth getting so stressed it forces you to be signed off sick.

She was already being very difficult with me the other day and had obviously said something to the horrible line manager, as they literally pounced on me once I'd got back to my seat. I can't do things I haven't been trained to do and they were belittling me and being really impatient. It was horrible.

So you have a line manager and a direct report humiliating you but you'd rather stay there because of the money.

It's stitched into the culture to demean people they believe to be vulnerable - as a new member of staff, they have one up on you

Good luck getting them to admit wrongdoing. Thinking you can go "all the way to the top" with this - what about if management is turning a blind eye on the pretext of it keeping staff 'on their toes.'

These people are definitely toxic and no please don't gaslight me into thinking it is me, I know it isn't.

I'm not gaslighting you, I'm suggesting your expectations might be shaping what you're experiencing. But as they clearly aren't, I'm out.

Talk to the next level manager or HR, you really have nothing to lose by the sounds of it because they'll hound you out eventually even if you don't say anything.

It may also help your colleague in her complaint because it's harder to ignore two people independently saying the same thing

Moving desks (you could think of a reason I am sure) might be worth a try. Yes letting the senior manager know and why you want to move desks. Having a proposal not just a complaint, however valid, may make you look the better person.

Yes I'm going to say something, it shouldn't be so comfortable for bullies to get away with making environments toxic; plus they need the job more than I do.

The other colleague said she doesn't care and she is fighting back and will keep complaining.

Yes I thought that too, I was going to present it as needing advice more than a complaint.

These sort of people are never "off the radar", I'm sure any management who have been there for any length of time are well aware of the issues and relying on people not speaking up so they don't have to deal with the situation.

I would speak up, but I am a speaker-upper... have been labelled a trouble maker sometimes but also have had action taken against bullies as a result of speaking up.

Also if someone else is speaking up it can be an ideal time to do so yourself - there is safety in numbers and it will be more powerful than if you're a lone voice.

I would ask for them to be moved from you rather than you moving!

Lol I'd rather move, as the other desks have the nicer people on them and it is do much quieter.

The main thing is being able to swap teams, so I don't have to work closely with the obnoxious person.