| Topic Name: |
Workplace bullying |
| Message Name: |
Bided my time |
| Date Posted: |
10/17/2000 |
| Message: |
I am in my first, post-degree job, having
just finished finally putting a few years
of experience on my resume, so my two cents
worth in this discussion is really directed
at those who may be similarly situated.
Unfortunately, at this early stage of my
career I didn't think I'd be doing myself
a favor by raising a stink with the EEOC
or elsewhere because of bullying, no matter
how justified it might have been. I'd
already heard prior to graduation that
too many of those with authority in the
high-pressure field I planned to enter
had a reputation for big egos and abuse
of subordinants, so maybe what I've
experienced was unavoidable, no matter
where I'd hired on. I realized what I'd walked into within two days of starting
work at the self-styled "small and
entrepreneurial" firm where I'm at now.
Here, there's no one bully....company
culture is shot through with bullying
and turning a blind eye to the bullying
of others.
All three of us juniors get the same
treatment, we're just targeted at
different moments. Over time, however,
my increasing self-confidence in the
skills I've picked up on the job and
off, and greater knowledge of office
politics, has allowed me to know how
to stand up for myself, and against
whom (the boss of bosses is still off-
limits). Also, I've come to realize that
the biggest reason for the victimizing
and scape-goating by the seniors may
well be that, at least during the thirty
months I've been here, they haven't
closed one major deal. (maybe that's why
the firm stays "small and entrepreneurial")
The level of frustration up toward the top
must be enormous, and I imagine venting
is less self-destructive than alcohol or
drugs.
Anyway, now that I have enough experience
to quietly start looking around for somewhere
better to go, I've been told by those in the
world outside that my 'betters' at the firm
have a reputation, among those they'd like
to do business with, for being "difficult".
Also, I've found while interviewing at a
handful of other companies that despite the
scape-goating I've had to put up with, the
outside world doesn't hold someone at my
level responsible for the firm's less than
stellar track record.
A recruiter told me that the economy has
been so hot that even those with relatively
little experience haven't had to grin and
bear a bad supervisor and/or boss, so maybe
I've stayed longer than I needed to. But
that kind of economy can't last forever.
What I wish is that I had known beforehand
of possible warning signs of work places
where bullying was tolerated or even popular.
Oh well, within a few months I'll be...
outta here!
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