Category: Verbal Abuse

Who Looks Out For Nurses? What Should I Do About the Bullying Culture?

Tina Lewis Rowe

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about
the bullying environment of a hospital 

Question: Who–government, attorney, someone–who stands up for nurses? I was bullied, to the point of crying in front of patients. At the nurses station, I could not chart. I had been knocked down and finally could not get back up.  I attempted suicide, but managed to only give them more reason to talk. Now, I’m blackballed. I lost my home, everything in it, my dignity and reputation.  That’s what hurts the most. I was an ICU awesome RN.

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I Have a Difficult Boss. Should I Quit–Or Stay and Hope for Improvement?

Tina Lewis Rowe

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about whether or not to look for another position,
even though it appears a difficult boss is trying to do better. 

Question:
I am a dental hygienist. I have been working for a female dentist for 2 years. She had been treating me fairly for over a year, then I noticed her changing. Condescending, yelling at me. I talked with her about this change in her behavior, that I wouldn’t tolerate this. Her reaction was defensive, angry. Then when I told her “I want to work with you, what can I do to improve this situation?” She softened and said “Ok, we can get through this” Since then she has been treating me better. She is a domineering person, and has been sued by a previous hygienist for bullying, harassment. Also, has been in practice for 6 years and has lost 4 hygienists, 2 assistants, and too many to count for front desk. Do I continue to try to work things out with this dentist? Do I take another job? Where I live there are openings for full time hygiene positions. Thank you for your help.

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A Supervisor Yelling at Her General Manager

Bill Gorden

Question submitted to Ask the Workplace Doctors by a supervisor who became enraged at her General Manager.

I had a startling experience at my new job last week. I am a general manager with 6 supervisors reporting to me. One Supervisor asked for my time in the office last week. She raised a concern that I had checked off some of her tasks in our task planner system when she was not done. I acknowledged that I had because they were overdue. It is a high company priority to complete them on time. She continued to raise her voice while telling me ‘you can’t do that’.

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Blackballed

Bill Gorden

I’m in an at-will state, and as a non-permanent employee, I was terminated with no reason (after months of bullying and harassment). Then I had an interview schedule in another section (different boss, different clients), and HR called to rescind the interview. No reason. No one will talk to me. I’m over 68 years old. Any recourse?

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What Can I Do About A Co-Worker Who Called Me A Bitch?

Bill Gorden

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about being called a bitch:

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Question:

I go to work today like any other day, gave my manager some chocolate from Belgium and things were fine. A coworker went to lunch, came back, and told my manager her tire looked low. I called my husband because we have a pump and live 5 minutes from the office, while the manager grabbed her phone. I opened the back door said the employee’s name, heard nothing and shut and locked the door thinking she was in the restroom or something.

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Abuse in a Family Owned Business

Bill Gorden

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about abuse in a family-owned business:

I have worked in a family-owned business for a several years, since I was in high school. I am currently in college now, and I help out when I have free blocks and days off in my schedule. I work alongside with my mother, who is the owner of the business.

In the beginning, things seemed OK, but as times progressed, it has gotten worse. She treats me differently than the other employees (I am her daughter after all).The way she treats me is pretty cruel. She constantly screams at me to get things done, when I am trying to do it, and if I make a mistake, she gets on me more compared to the other workers. For instance, she will scold an employee for about 3 to 5 minutes, but for me it can go up to more than an hour.

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What Should I Do About This Threat?

Tina Lewis Rowe

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about an employee who
yelled a threatening remark.
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Question:
I’m a manager and a staff member got upset about some work I gave him and yelled at me, inches from my face, saying, “Don’t make me lose my shit or one of these days there’ll be nothing left here except charcoal!” What should I do about it?

Answer:

It sounds as though you have an employee who 1.) Is rude and disrespectful to his manager. 2.) Doesn’t control his temper. 3.) Makes threats that implies if he gets angry enough he will set the building on fire—and presumably anyone in it.

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Coworker and Former Friend Accused My Husband of Verbal Abuse

Tina Lewis Rowe

A Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about a situation between coworkers who were close friends but now are in conflict about a personal issue that resulted in a confrontation at work.

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Question:

I have been friends with my coworker for four years. She lived in my home for three months when she had nowhere else to go. We have spent holidays together that included her family and mine. Almost a month ago she decided to change everything.

It started off with my husband and I kicking out my daughters’ boyfriend (my daughter is now 18 and her boyfriend is now 19) He had been living with us for about a year and a half after he got my daughter pregnant. We took him in, even though it caused us a financial burden. My coworker “friend” was asked by my daughter if her boyfriend could stay with her during work days for two weeks until the house they wanted to rent was ready.

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The Wife of My Boss is Harassing Me, What Can I Do?

Tina Lewis Rowe

A question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about how to deal with the wife of the boss, who is sending harassing text messages and spreading lies and rumors in a small town. 

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Question:

I am the office manager of a small office and am happily married–however, my husband is very ill.  I had previously worked for my boss for ten years, but moved away when I married my husband. Because of his illness we moved back to be near to family and after having another job for a while, my current boss offered me employment as his office manager, in August of 2013

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