Bullied On The Job But Don’t Know How To Leave?
A disturbing epidemic
Workplace bullying (a.k.a. mobbing) is a common occurrence among those with a more empathic disposition. It is not just a matter of “difficult personalities” or personalities not matching; rather, it is aggressive and hostile behavior towards a specific target by a group.
Unfortunately, far too little is done about hostile behavior in many work environments, with Human Resources (HR) often prioritizing the reputation of the company rather than protecting its employees.
As someone who has experienced workplace bullying in various environments, here is what I learned. My hope is that what I share can help someone who is in a similar predicament.
Should you stay or should you go?
There are cases where a person does enough inner work where they no longer deal with a bullying boss or group of people in the workplace. If you feel this rings true for you, then that is great.
In most cases, however, I don’t believe targets need to do more “inner work” to change the situation but that workplace bullying is a sign that you need to LEAVE!
This is because you are in a toxic environment surrounded by toxic people. Perhaps you can get to a point where you are no longer triggered by your negative co-workers but “tolerating” a toxic environment is not the same as feeling “safe” in one and, sadly, most people like this do not change for the better.
Thus, I believe it is best to search for a new job elsewhere (whether at another company) or work for yourself.
Don’t feel like you have no choice but to stay in a toxic job that is harming your well-being because you don’t know if you can find another job. This is an understandable concern, but know you have options!
Some options
Consider getting a job through a temp agency if you don’t feel like you can get another job easily. Another option is a part-time job (or multiple jobs).
If you do not want to work for another company anytime soon (understandably so), then consider freelancing, contractor work, or selling products or services.
If you can take some time to recuperate, don’t be afraid to do this either. Burnout is a very real thing and, sometimes, a person’s physical health can be failing so bad from a toxic job before they acknowledge they need to rest.
Whatever you choose, follow your intuition and make your decision based on faith over fear!
“Know your worth, then add tax.”