Is this covert bullying?

[xsquared]

I don't know whether I'm just being petty, or whether my boss is being out of line and a cf.

For months now, there would be a little thing here and there that they do that feels intrusive or where they haven't been communicating honestly with me and my colleague. On the surface, they've never been aggressive or antagonistic, it's just that their actions have made me feel undermined.

For background information, I am in a supporting role for the team and my colleague and I have our own work area where we have extra computers and work with students. Sometimes other members of staff like working on the spare staff computer to get away from the office.

Some examples of their behaviour that I wasn't happy with:

• A large storage unit appeared one day in our area, and I thought my colleague had ordered it for us, but it turned out that our boss had ordered it to store something else in it. Fine. We have the space, but I wish you'd let us know first.

• An increase in their appearance in our area when they have their own office and computer. They are quick to say why they are there without being prompted.

• They take a key piece of equipment to give to the new member of staff rather than ordering a new one, and say to us that we do not need one each.

• A major piece of IT equipment was ordered to be moved by them to another room without any discussion with me or my colleague. Those who work with us don't benefit from the lack of equipment either.

I don’t want to be too specific and give further details, although I doubt they use MN.

I jut feel down after the last incident and they behave as of nothing has happened and that we should just accept things without question.

I've explained the bit about them being in our working area several times. It's not a territorial thing. Other members of staff are welcome to use the spare computer whenever they want. They are there just a bit too often and for a longer time than I think is necessary, and it feels like surveillance.

There is a lot of things that they have done that has made them unpopular with the rest of the team, which is why everyone bar one other member of staff has left since he's joined. Even the new members of the team are very unhappy at the moment with some admitting that they've been looking elsewhere.

Anyway, I was only asking because I wondered whether I was going to be next. It is lots of little things that have trickled down.

I can't really say much more without it potentially being outing. It is clear to the rest of the team that a lot of things that were meant to be their responsibility has been passed on to another member of staff who previously had very little to do with us, but seems to be the one running our department at the moment as well as their own.

No not bullying.

It’s above 0 degrees here today. Snowflakes melting ❄️

You're the problem here op.

If you have any idea of what is going on in our work place you'd have a very different point of view.

I shall bow out of this thread now, as clearly I'm not really able to give the facts without outing myself.

You know nothing.

Largely because you aren't saying!

But no it isn't bullying - gossiping about someone's PIP may very well be though. This is something you should know nothing at all about.

You're right, all I know about this situation is what you've shared and based on that information, your behaviour sounds much worse than his.

This isn't AIBU.

Bullying? Absolutely not. Annoying, yes.

@Yabadabadooooo

Are you a boomer? No gen x so slightly less robust than a boomer! But this post does sounds a bit snowflake. I think OP is going to report to wellbeing person so fingers crossed it can get resolved 🤞🏻

Honestly, I don’t see the problem here 🙈 Sorry if that’s not the answer you were hoping for.
NOT Bullying. I do wish people would stop using the word when someone does something they don’t like.

Sorry op, when you say "they" is that a singular they or plural they? Just can't tell from your post.

Fundamentally your line manager is responsible for “your” area. I cannot seem to understand why you have not talked to them and instead are speculating on their intentions.

It may be hard to hear you may be an issue here yourself but the way I read it, it seems you are.

It's been a while since I started thread, but in response to recent replies.
@Braygirlnow I'm using they as a singular term. Does that make a difference?

@jamanbutter Unless you know exactly whats going in in my work place, you will absolutely not think I am the issue. I am a small fish in a big pond. Nobody has left or gone off sick because I've cocked somewhere. Shortly after writing my op, 2 member of staff have done just that and another two are leaving. One of them being my direct line manager, who had our back.

I absolutely know that the head of department is responsible for our area, which is why we go to him when we have concerns. The issue is, they don't listen to us or want to accept our requests and make decisions about the area that benefit anyone except themselves.

We've had meetings to discuss concerns about our area, which are usually fobbed off with "I'll see what I can do". So it's not as if I've not spoken to them at all. We try to do this every year, and they're very good at shrugging thing off. Really, all I'm asking for is a manager who will work with his team, not against them.

Just asking as wasn't sure if it was one person or a number of people that were behaving this way.