You are the new kid on the block and although you knew the first few weeks on the job would be dedicated to getting to know your surroundings and your coworkers, there seems to be other forces at work that are turning those weeks into months.
Your boss does not seem to be satisfied with your performance no matter how many hours you are putting in, and your colleagues are offering no help or advice.
Are you being harassed?
Here are a few signs according to nobullying.com:
• Being singled out at work, even though your work is above average. Bosses who like to show their control usually find someone they consider to be weak and prey on their emotions. They make a spectacle out of them in front of everyone. If this is happening to you, there are people you can report this type of behavior to. If you are being yelled at, called unpleasant names, and constantly criticized and humiliated in front of crowds of people, you need to take action.
• Isolation is another form of harassment. If you are not invited to meetings, your items on your desk are moved or you are not invited to lunches or work outings, this is another sign.
• If your work is always in question or sabotaged by last minute changes or instant rule changes, this is clearly harassment. All companies should send out a memo to all employees about recent or upcoming changes. Everyone should know about trainings, meetings and workshops in advance, not the day of or the day after. Once you have worked your required number of hours, and if your work is up to date, complete and not lacking any substance, there is no reason for erratic schedule changes.
Ask yourself these questions. Does your job:
• Cause you physical or emotional damage?
• Cause you to deal with unwanted behaviors and unwanted desires?
If you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios, it’s time to talk to someone who can act on your concerns.
However, bullying.com reminds us that not all acts of ineptitude are signs of harassment. Sometimes a colleague or a boss may have an entirely different work style. Workplace harassment can be confused with other issues such as:
• Rudeness.
• Insensitivity towards employees.
• Discourtesies.
• Episodes of teasing an employee.
• One isolated inappropriate comment to an employee.
Learn to spot the difference. Having nightmares and sleepless nights because of your job is no way to live your life. This goes beyond a little teasing or forgetting to say please and thank you.
