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Is this bullying?

5 replies

noideaoffuturenow · 03/07/2025 20:29

I'd appreciate some perspective on an incident which happened in my workplace today..I had another issue separate to this which was a complaint about something nothing to do with me but was taken out on me...so am wondering if I'm being over sensitive.

I am a professional, employed by a group and placed in a business, which is a healthcare business. It's a v stressful busy environment and I'm the only one in my role who works there. I am surrounded by/work alongside other professionals/colleagues who all do a similar role but different to mine. My role is fairly new, still being carved out & pretty individualised based on my personal skills and experience. I am fairly new to this role, though have been in this place for 3 years. For backstory, it is a notoriously toxic environment.

I have repeatedly been asked to do a task in this business, which other professionals who do my role in other similar businesses do not do. There is a query over personal liability with this task and my manager (remote to me) is trying to decide if I am covered to do it. This has been stated to my colleagues, they are fully aware but the task is frequently added back to my duties, and I remove it-which the manager is aware of.

Yesterday and today I went in to find that this task had been added to my duties. No-one had said anything to me about it, so as usual, I removed it. Went about my job. The business manager was not there y'day, but was today so I mentioned it to him and he said that as they were currently short staffed, they were under pressure and that is why the duty had been added to my list. I explained again that I was still waiting to hear from my manager and that until I knew the rules, I wasn't able to do task but sympathised that colleagues were under pressure and offered to support in other ways.

At lunchtime, a colleague who had not been there in the morning came in and very loudly declared outside my door that they all needed to have a meeting about X duty as the person who normally does it is off on Leave and they are all struggling (mind you-they had all finished their morning tasks by then which I had not). It was made v clear I was not included in this group, none of them spoke to me, this loud call for a gathering was repeated a few more times (just in case I hadn't heard it the first time) and off they all went. No-one spoke directly to me about any of it.

I knew they were going off to bitch about me. I was finished my shift at that stage so left, but the whole thing has left a v sour taste in my mouth and I just don't feel like I can ignore this-it was a step to far. There have been other things which have made me feel disrespected, and I have quietly ignored, got on with my job, but not sure I can or should do this any more.

FWIW-I also work in another business; same role, same type of business and the contrast is stark......I am not made to feel the way I am in the first place.

OP posts:
noideaoffuturenow · 04/07/2025 07:28

Hopeful bump!!

OP posts:
Sugardown · 04/07/2025 08:07

I’m sorry but I couldn’t really
make head nor tail about this

what is this “duty”?
and is anyone doing it given you’re not?

Lurkingandlearning · 04/07/2025 10:21

I wouldn’t call it bullying. They are being petty by announcing the meeting several times so loudly outside your office, but they are taking on board the task is not your responsibility. If it is passed to you again tell them that their manager and your manager do not want you to do it. Then repeat your offer to help in some other way once you’ve finished your own work. It was generous of you to offer to do that.

RechargeableGnu · 04/07/2025 19:22

I am a union rep and would - and did - go to the union about this. They told me I should not do xx under any circumstances.

That's what I kept repeating to work anytime it was brought up.

Reminding loudly is irritating and petty but not bullying.

jamanbutter · 04/07/2025 22:26

This is not bullying. There will also be contentious issues at work and you have to be able to work past those.

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